Craft Shows & Fairs in Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi sits at the center of Mississippi's Gulf Coast craft corridor, where beach tourism, casino resorts, and a strong regional arts community intersect. The Biloxi Seafood Festival at Point Cadet Plaza each September features artisan craft vendors alongside food and maritime heritage programming. Ten miles east in Ocean Springs, the Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival — held the first weekend of November with 200+ juried artists — is one of the most significant craft events in the South. Between the Gulf Coast Art Association, Shearwater Pottery's legacy, and the casino resort event infrastructure, Biloxi and its immediate neighbors offer craft fair access from early fall through the holiday season.

Biloxi's Craft Show Scene

The Biloxi Seafood Festival is the city's signature outdoor event. Held each September at Point Cadet Plaza, it combines artisan craft vendors with seafood, live music, and a celebration of the Gulf Coast's maritime heritage. The setting at Point Cadet — where Biloxi's Vietnamese-American shrimping community and its historic fishing industry overlap — gives the festival a character distinct from inland craft shows.

The Back Bay area of Biloxi has an emerging artisan studio and boutique scene. Periodic farmers and artisan markets in the Back Bay neighborhood bring local makers to a waterfront setting. The Gulf Coast Art Association operates in the metro area and supports both visual artists and craft makers through exhibitions and community events.

Gulf Coast casino resorts — including Hard Rock Biloxi, Beau Rivage, and IP Casino — host vendor events and holiday markets on their properties. The casino resort infrastructure means Biloxi has hotel capacity and visitor traffic that smaller Mississippi craft destinations lack, making it practical to attend a craft event without advance lodging concerns.

Ocean Springs: The Gulf Coast Art Colony

Ocean Springs, 10 miles east of Biloxi, is the real arts hub of the Gulf Coast and home to some of Mississippi's most important craft institutions. Shearwater Pottery, founded by the Anderson family in 1928, is one of the South's most celebrated art pottery studios — still operating and open to visitors. The Walter Anderson Museum of Community Art preserves and exhibits the work of Walter Inglis Anderson, whose paintings and ceramics are central to Ocean Springs' identity as an art colony.

The Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival, held the first weekend of November, brings 200+ juried artists to Ocean Springs' downtown streets. Named for the founder of Shearwater Pottery, it is one of Mississippi's most attended and most respected craft events. For Biloxi visitors, Ocean Springs is a short drive east and a natural companion destination.

County Fairs Near Biloxi

The Harrison County Fair at the Harrison County Fairgrounds runs a traditional county fair program with livestock shows, 4-H and FFA youth programs, and creative arts competitions including quilts, ceramics, and photography. The Gulf Coast Fair in Gulfport adds vendor and craft elements to the area's fair calendar.

Best Times to Visit Biloxi for Craft Events

The other key windows:

• Spring (March–May) — outdoor events resume as beach season begins
• Summer — active for casino resort programming but limited for outdoor craft fairs due to Gulf Coast heat

Nearby Cities for Craft Shows

• Ocean Springs — ~10 miles east; Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival (November, 200+ juried artists); Shearwater Pottery; Walter Anderson Museum
• Gulfport — ~12 miles west; Gulf Coast Fair; Harrison County venues
• Jackson — ~170 miles north; Mississippi State Fair (October); Fondren Arts Market; Mississippi Crafts Center (Ridgeland)
• Oxford — ~280 miles north; Double Decker Arts Festival (April)
• Natchez — ~200 miles northwest; Pilgrimage craft events
• Tupelo — ~250 miles north; Lee County Fair; holiday craft shows

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best craft shows in Biloxi, Mississippi?

The Biloxi Seafood Festival at Point Cadet Plaza (September) is the city's largest outdoor event with artisan vendors. The Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival in nearby Ocean Springs (first weekend of November, 200+ juried artists) is the premier craft event in the region. Casino resorts including Hard Rock Biloxi and Beau Rivage host holiday vendor markets through December.

When do craft shows happen in Biloxi?

September through December is the active season. The Seafood Festival runs in September, the Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs in early November, and holiday markets at casino resorts and community venues fill December. Spring brings outdoor markets back to the Gulf Coast. Summer is quieter for craft events due to heat.

Are there country fairs near Biloxi?

The Harrison County Fair at the Harrison County Fairgrounds features livestock, 4-H and FFA programs, and creative arts competitions. The Gulf Coast Fair in Gulfport adds vendor and craft programming. The Mississippi State Fair in Jackson (170 miles north) is the state's largest fair event each October.

Is Ocean Springs worth visiting for craft shows?

Ocean Springs is one of Mississippi's most important craft destinations. Shearwater Pottery has been operating since 1928. The Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival (November) draws 200+ juried artists and is considered one of the South's top craft weekends. The Walter Anderson Museum adds a cultural dimension. It is a 10-mile drive from Biloxi.

Find Events in Biloxi

CraftShow Events covers craft shows, artisan fairs, and market listings in Biloxi, Ocean Springs, and across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Search by date and event type to find the Seafood Festival, Peter Anderson Festival, holiday markets, and everything in between.