This weekend in Gulfport-Biloxi, MS

Enjoy a free, community-focused Mississippi Gulf Coast Book Festival at Jones Park’s Barksdale Pavilion. The festival highlights literacy and brings together local authors, families, and educational opportunities for everyone in the Gulf Coast region.

This Marina Cleanup at Keesler Marina Dock welcomes volunteers to help empty trash bins, pick up trash and debris, and pull weeds. All bags and gloves are provided, and participation is open to anyone.

Gulf Coast Softball Exposure Camp comes back to Gulfport Sportsplex for two days of training, competition, and on-field opportunities to showcase skills in front of experienced college softball coaches from programs across the country and at a variety of levels. Athletes will take part in offensive and defensive instruction, live game scenarios, and competitive drills that build skills and readiness. Open to graduates from the classes of 2026 through 2031, with registration currently open.

Begin the day with a Lions Club pancake breakfast, then dive into family friendly fun that spans water slides, a Raingutter Regatta, water balloon tosses, sack races, tug of war, a bubble station, and sidewalk chalk art. Scout skills take center stage with demonstrations, a knot tying challenge, a camping and outdoor skills display, and a flag etiquette presentation. Food trucks and local vendors add to the festivities, community partners are on hand, and a raffle keeps the excitement going. Lions vision screenings are available. Longtime residents, scouting families, and anyone seeking a fun outing will find plenty to do while celebrating the nation’s history and connecting with neighbors. The day also spotlights how organizations like the Woolmarket Lions Club and Scouting America are helping build the future. Admission is free. Honoring America’s Past. Building America’s Future.

A volunteer-driven beach cleanup focuses on tidying the shoreline near the Biloxi Lighthouse parking lot along the beach. No advance registration is required, volunteers can simply show up to help keep the coast clean.

Discover a free, family friendly celebration of books and community at Jones Park. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Book Festival highlights literacy, creativity, and connection with opportunities to meet local authors, browse vendor offerings, enjoy live entertainment, and take part in youth activities. Food and drinks will be available. This inaugural gathering is inspired by His Story, Our Journey in honor of Arthuris "AJ" Rapp, and it is dedicated to uniting the Gulf Coast through storytelling and education. Prospective vendors, sponsors, and authors can contact the organizers for participation details.

This event features a tabletop war game set in the Star Wars universe.

Mudslingers is a beginner friendly pottery wheel class that celebrates the inventive legacy of George Ohr, the Mad Potter of Biloxi, through the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art. Instructors provide step by step guidance on the basics of wheel throwing, and participants create two ceramic pots to keep. After the class, staff glaze and fire the pieces so they are ready for pickup in about two weeks, and shipping can be arranged for an additional fee for those who are not local. No experience is required. Wear clothing that can get messy and enjoy hands on time with clay. The class takes place at the Biloxi Center for Ceramics, costs $48 per person, is designed for ages 18 and up, and is limited to 10 students per session. Refunds, minus the credit card fee, are available up to seven days before the class begins. After that window the fee is nonrefundable, but tickets may be transferred to a friend.

Create a ceramic seashell that captures a bit of summer in a pottery workshop at Boozer's Brew & a Cafe Too, LLC. After the workshop, your piece will be glazed and fired, then returned to the venue for pickup about a month later. All supplies and firings are included in the $65 fee. Tickets are released about a month before each workshop.

Creek and Craft Market Bite Night brings dinner on the go to Bayou View Park, with multiple food trucks offering convenient meal options. It is an easy alternative to cooking at home, giving attendees the chance to pick up dinner from the trucks.

The annual GCCA Summer Social at Bayou Bluff Tennis Club features a $5,000 drawdown, a live auction, and raffles for two Basket of Cheers. Food, drinks, and music will be provided. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased via Venmo at @GCCA-1908, include your name and phone number, or by calling the GCCA office at 228-432-8806. Current GCCA sponsors do not need to purchase a ticket to attend. Prospective members may join by purchasing a drawdown ticket or by paying $50 per person at the door. For questions, contact the GCCA office at 228-432-8806. Attendees must be 21 or older.

Enjoy a meal paired with a casual jam session, bringing food and music together in a relaxed setting.

Grammy Award winner Dexter Allen brings his signature mix of blues, R&B, soul, and funk to the stage at Ground Zero Blues Club Biloxi. A seasoned guitarist and bassist who has toured with major acts and released multiple albums, he performs with a high-energy style influenced by classic blues and beyond.

Near the Popps Ferry Bridge and Causeway, a festive flotilla sets out for a Mardi Gras themed boat parade that transforms Bayou Bernard into a sea of purple, green, and gold. Participants can display GCCA flags with pride while cruising in the procession. Sponsorship as a GCCA Mardi Gras supporter is open to everyone. Celebrate on the water with colorful boats and plenty of Mardi Gras spirit.

Explore clay together in a family-friendly class at the Center for Ceramics Studio, where participants create a fish sculpture from slabs. Guided by instructor Lara Blanchard, each student makes one fish and adds color with underglazes. Finished pieces remain in the studio for a clear glaze and firing, with pickup available about two to three weeks after the class. The session introduces hand-building with clay slabs and surface decoration. It is open to ages 10 through adult, and a parent or guardian must also register. Class size is limited to 10 students. Refunds, minus credit card fees, are available up to 7 days before the class begins. After that period the fee is non-refundable, but tickets may be transferred to a friend.

Take part in a Riftbound event that uses the constructed format. The entry fee is $5.