What decides whether Harbor Lights has a good year? When the Sun Herald asked the city's Billy Lehman, he said revenue goes up when the weather cooperates and when Thanksgiving comes early. Lehman, now assistant director of Gulfport's Leisure Services Department, worked on the city crew for the first show in 2015 and has run the event since 2023.
That makes the 2026–27 season worth watching early. The festival opens at Jones Park on Friday, Nov. 27, and runs through Jan. 3, 2027. Tickets go on sale online Nov. 1. Crews started building it on Tuesday, Oct. 13, two days after Cruisin' the Coast cleared out of Cruise Central, WLOX reported.
Three Seasons, Three Thanksgivings
The show always opens the day after Thanksgiving. In 2025, Gulfport's public information officer told WLOX the crews have everything "broken down to be ready to open the day after Thanksgiving." Thanksgiving moves around, so the start of the season moves with it. Here are the last few seasons side by side:
| Season | Thanksgiving | Run | What was reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Late, per the Sun Herald | Opened the day after | About 92,000 visitors, 11 rainy days, a $362,484 deficit |
| 2025 | Nov. 27 | Nov. 28 through Dec. 31, per the Sun Herald's season preview | Around 100,000 guests by Dec. 26, per organizers |
| 2026 | Nov. 26 | Nov. 27 through Jan. 3, 2027 | Tickets on sale Nov. 1 |
The 2024 row is the cautionary one. The Sun Herald tied that season's $362,484 deficit to the two problems Lehman named, 11 rainy days and a late start to the holiday. Attendance came in at about 92,000, down from 116,000 in 2023.
This year's calendar works in the show's favor. Thanksgiving falls on Nov. 26, a day earlier than last year's, and the published run goes past New Year's to Jan. 3. Last season's preview listed Nov. 28 through Dec. 31. Counted day by day, this year's run is 38 calendar days and last year's listed run was 34. That's four more evenings for families to come and four more nights of ticket sales.
Why a Light Show's Budget Reaches the Harbor
That deficit matters to more than the festival. According to the Sun Herald, Harbor Lights also helps fund harbor operations and the city employees who work Gulfport's other special events. The biggest expense is contractors, who handle everything from security to setup and construction.
So a good Harbor Lights season helps pay for the working harbor at Jones Park, which is in use long after the dancing trees come down. The crowds are large for a city this size. The Sun Herald put Gulfport's population close to 75,000, and the show drew about 92,000 people even in its weak 2024 season. The city says those visitors come from well beyond Gulfport. Speaking to WLOX in October 2025, the city's public information officer named New Orleans, Jackson and Hattiesburg.
The show is presented by Island View Casino & Resort and the City of Gulfport. Lehman has also been candid about the workload:
"It's a lot of work. I don't think people realize how much work. They see lights going up, and they come and enjoy it."
He said that to the Sun Herald, in the same interview where he said the families are what make it worth it.
Weather Is the Variable Nobody Schedules
The calendar is set months ahead. The weather isn't. Last season, WXXV reported about 18,000 visitors in roughly the first week, along with two weather-related closures, on a Monday and a Thursday.
Weather affects your plans as much as the city's budget. Harbor Lights is a self-guided walking tour, and vehicles aren't allowed inside the park. If weather knocks out the night you bought tickets for, the official FAQ says to email [email protected], and it warns that replies may be slow because staff are out in the field getting the show ready.
Getting In and Getting Around
The festival covers all 40 acres of Jones Park. Here's how the logistics break down on the official parking page and FAQ:
- CTA garage: Free parking at the Coast Transit Authority garage at 2015 15th St., near 20th Avenue, with free shuttles to the show every 15 to 30 minutes.
- West entrance: Free parking at the park's west entrance at Highway 90 and Highway 49.
- Accessibility: Both lots have accessible spaces and assistance. An enclosed, heated trolley also runs inside the park every evening for guests who have trouble walking.
- Admission: General admission runs $14 to $22, and ages 4 through 12 pay $5 to $7. The price depends on the day of the week and whether you buy online or at the box office. Ages 3 and under get in free.
Inside, the Activities page lists Santa's Village under Barksdale Pavilion, the train ride, carnival rides, warming stations, a gift shop, a stuffed-animal-making station and the dancing trees, which run more than two hours of choreographed lights. The two official pages give different hours for Santa. The FAQ lists 6 to 10 p.m. and the Activities page lists 6 to 9 p.m., every night except Christmas Day. If seeing Santa is the reason for your visit, plan around the earlier time.
What to Check When Tickets Open Nov. 1
Some of the most useful details for Gulfport residents are still last year's versions:
- Discount nights. As of mid-October, the FAQ still shows the section labeled "2025 Discount Nights." Last year, Dec. 1–3 and Dec. 8–10 were $5 nights for Gulfport residents, teachers and education professionals, military, first responders, medical professionals, and seniors 65 and older. The 2026 dates haven't been posted yet.
- Gate hours. Last season's Sun Herald preview listed gates from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., with the park open until 10:30 p.m. or later on busy weekends. The 2026 site doesn't list nightly hours yet.
- The ticketing page. The FAQ points to the city's ticketing page for 2026, which hadn't opened as of mid-October. The FAQ recommends buying online so you don't wait in line at the box office.
Before the lights go on, the harbor has one more shift change. Ship Island Excursions, which departs from the harbor at Jones Park, lists Nov. 1 as the last day of its 2026 fall ferry schedule, with fall trips running Wednesday through Sunday. The National Park Service's listing ends the season a day earlier, on Oct. 31. If you want a last trip out to the island, aim for this weekend or next and check with the operator first.
Harbor Lights helps keep Gulfport's harbor running, and living near it means planning around a few busy weeks at Jones Park every year. If you're wondering what your home near the harbor or anywhere else in Gulfport is worth right now, Prosper Realty can walk you through it with local knowledge and clear communication. Start with a Free Home Valuation, and we'll take it from there.
