Stone County Chamber Schedules Christmas Events | Home & Garden

Stone County Economic Development Partnership:

The Christmas season will be one of joy and activities as the Stone County Chamber – a division of the Stone County Economic Development Partnership – has scheduled a number of events.

The EDP’s Christmas Open House and Shopping Spree on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 will bring thousands of shoppers to participating retailers offering great bargains. In addition, for every $10 a shopper spends in a participating retailer, the shopper will get a ticket in a drawing for great prizes from the retailers. The grand prize is a $250 gift certificate redeemable in Open House retailers.

That same weekend, on Dec. 2, Stone County’s Garden Gate Garden Club will host its second Christmas Tour of Homes. Several beautiful Stone County homes will be decked out in holiday style and their doors opened. Tickets, which are only $5, can be purchased from any Garden Club member.

A week later, on Dec. 7, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will host its annual Festival of Lights. The Perkinston Campus will light up with carnival rides, food vendors and a host of activities for children of all ages.

On Dec. 8, the Stone County Chamber takes over, turning Blaylock Park into “Christmas HQ.” The first event will be the inaugural Stone County Jingle Bell 5K Run and Kids’ One-Mile Fun Run, beginning at 8 a.m.

Registration for the run will be $20 in advance and may be done online; kids registration is $10, but kids can bring a toy to donate to the “Cops for Kids” program instead of the $10 fee. Call the EDP office at 601-928-5418 or go online at www.stonecounty.com for the link or more information.

Following the run, Wiggins’ firefighters will again host “Breakfast with Santa” at the Tice Memorial Fire Station on Magnolia Drive. The event will begin at 9 a.m. and give kids a chance to share with the “Jolly Old Elf” what they want for Christmas.

Beginning at noon, local organizations and crafters are invited to set up food and merchandise booths in Blaylock Park to keep the excitement going as families await the annual Christmas Parade, which begins at 5 p.m.

To host a booth, local organizations and crafters need only contact the EDP and register; there will be no cost to have a booth in the park Saturday afternoon and evening. The idea is to give local artisans a chance to merchandise their products to shoppers and to give local nonprofit organizations a chance to raise money for worthwhile projects.

At 5 p.m., the annual Christmas Parade rolls through downtown Wiggins. This year’s theme is “Freedom Christmas,” and will honor the families of local military personnel deployed in harm’s way.

The parade will end at Blaylock Park, which will come alive with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, music and the Shopping Spree prize drawings. Remember, those holding Shopping Spree Tickets must be present to win if their ticket is drawn. 

Following the drawings, a Christmas-themed movie is planned in the park as the EDP’s “Movies in the Park” makes a holiday appearance.

“Stone County is a great place to live, work and raise a family – and a wonderful place to celebrate the holiest of seasons,” said Jay Paul Gumm, EDP executive director. “Our volunteer Chamber board of directors is working hard to make sure this Christmas season will be a great one in our community.”

For more information about Christmas or to register for the Jingle Bell Run or to have a booth, contact the EDP at 601-928-5418.

Information source: Stone County Economic Development Partnership.