Ridgeland wears the holiday season well. When fall turns central Mississippi's foliage vibrant colors and Christmas lights wink on around town, this walkable, bikeable, destination just north of Jackson puts the “festive” in “festivities” while hosting all manner of merry celebrations.
If anyone knows what makes the city special during the coziest months, it’s Shane Aldridge, President/CEO of Explore Ridgeland. “In Ridgeland, Mississippi, the holidays still feel special,” enthuses Aldridge. “You can explore six distinct districts along the Ridgeland Retail Trail, each with its own character. You can discover the Bill Waller Craft Center, where Mississippi artisans turn glass, wood, clay, and fiber into one-of-a-kind gifts. Add in seasonal markets and celebrations, and the city comes alive with holiday charm.”
Throughout November and December, Ridgeland celebrates Wrap It In Ridgeland, presenting a glittering array of seasonal shindigs. So, come for the events, stick around to relish the small-town comfort and cheer, and make Ridgeland your holiday home-away-from home while attending these fall and Christmas season events.
November 7 – 9: National Folk Festival 2025
From November 7—9, Jackson, Mississippi serves as proud host to the 82nd National Folk Festival—an unparalleled celebration of America’s diverse artistic traditions set to fill the capital city with music, dance, craft, storytelling, and culinary events. The three-day event will welcome more than three hundred of the country’s finest traditional performers and crafters to seven stages around downtown, and will take place in Jackson for three years running—2025, 2026, and 2027.
Musical talent from across the United States descends upon Jackson, Mississippi, when the capital city hosts the 2025 National Folk Festival, November 7—9.
With the capital city gearing up to host a celebration that’s expected to draw more than 300,000, Ridgeland offers an amenity-rich nearby retreat, where charming hotels and boutiques, warm hospitality, and inviting outdoor attractions provide an ideal base from which to enjoy the festival’s activities without getting lost in big-city bustle. Showcasing Ridgeland’s blend of small-city charms, local hotels are offering Folk Festival weekend package deals designed to help attendees make the most of the festival, while also putting their town’s upscale shopping, restaurant, and outdoor activity options within easy reach. Visit exploreridgeland.com/wrapit to explore the options.
November 13 – 15: Chimneyville Arts Festival 2025
For the 49th year, the Craftsman’s Guild of Mississippi’s renowned Chimneyville Arts Festival returns to the Bill Waller Craft Center on the Natchez Trace Parkway. See what Mississippi’s finest artisans have been dreaming up in their workshops, make merry (and watch merry being made) during live crafting demonstrations, and find one-of-a-kind handmade treasures to give (or keep) this holiday season. This one’s a time-honored festive favorite. mscrafts.org/eventsclasses/chimneyville-arts-festival-2025 for more.
1 of 2
2 of 2
From Chimneyville to under-your-tree. Find made-with-love gifts for every loved one on your list at the beloved annual arts festival.
November 27: Fleet Feet Turkey Day 8K
This Thanksgiving, how about squeezing in an early-morning run before all that turkey makes you waddle? Ridgeland’s Turkey Day 8K is a feast of fun with courses for runners and walkers alike. VIPs get extra perks like mimosas, snacks, swag, and a cozy indoor space to warm up in, so you can work up a proper appetite before going for seconds.
December 4: Christmas Open House
The Township at Colony Park’s Christmas Open House turns an early December evening into a scene straight from a classic holiday film. Choirs and quartets make music in the glow of twinkling lights, visions of sugarplum fairies dance, a live nativity brings joy to the world, and the Grinch makes an appearance to try to steal Christmas. With so much to see and do and hear, it’s an ideal way to kick off the season of cheer.
Cozy up on a horse-drawn carriage ride at the Christmas Open House
The events above are just the beginning. To find out more about holiday season happenings in Ridgeland, visit exploreRidgeland.com/events
.jpg)
