This Small Mississippi Town Has The Best Downtown
A waterfront town on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, Ocean Springs is as pretty as its name suggests. Scenic and summery, this lively city is full of heart and hospitality, which is reflected in its inviting downtown core.
A designated Main Street Community since 1989, Ocean Springs isn’t just pretty and historic; it’s a resilient town with a strong community spirit. That spirit has helped the city recover from difficult times to become one of the jewels of Mississippi.
Award-Winning
Ocean Springs was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, which swept across the Gulf Coast in 2005. Battered by the Category 5 storm, the town rallied, and rebuilding began with a focus on enabling economic development and transforming the downtown core into a cultural tourism destination that both visitors and locals could enjoy.
Those efforts paid off in 2013 when Ocean Springs became one of only three towns in the country to win a Great American Main Street Award. And the awards keep coming. In 2022, Ocean Springs was named Best Coastal Small Town by USA Today, and in 2024, the city was voted one of America’s Most Charming Main Streets by a poll of 3,000 travellers.
Visitor Tips and Information
Ocean Spring’s main drag is Washington Avenue. This busy thoroughfare is the town’s main artery, running north-south from roughly the Old Fort Bayou to Front Beach. The street is lined with green spaces, art museums, boutiques, restaurants, parks, cafes, galleries, and gift shops.
It’s also where you’ll find the Ocean Springs Visitor Center. Housed in the L&N Depot Plaza, the center carries brochures, maps, local art, and event schedules. It’s a great starting point for your visit as you can ask the knowledgeable staff about current events, discounts, and activities.
Things to Do in Downtown Ocean Springs
It’s nice to wander through Ocean Springs’ walkable downtown, but it’s also good to give your feet a break and rent a cart from Downtown Cart Rentals so you can explore via golf cart. While you can’t drive the cart on Washington Avenue, you can motor around the waterfront, Front Beach, and the entertainment district.
Given Ocean Springs’ natural beauty, it’s no wonder that the town attracts artists. See their work at the Pink Rooster, an eclectic gallery that sells intricate jewelry, fine art paintings, handcrafted pottery, and ornate glasswork. A staple of downtown’s art scene for over 50 years, Hillyer House is another good spot to pick up a unique souvenir. The gallery's carefully curated selection includes pottery, art, and glass. One of their most popular and eye-catching items is a range of stunning jellyfish glass lamps by Opal Art Glass.
Go beyond gifts and browse masterpieces from local, regional, and international artists at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. Founded in 1991, the museum has around 2,000 objects and is a truly immersive experience thanks to its huge murals that give visitors the impression they are walking through the artwork rather than just viewing it.
Cajun food is a specialty here, with restaurants like Lazy Oak Bistreaux offering up a tasty breakfast and lunch menu that's sure to start your day on the right foot. Bacchus On The Bayou or The Crawfish House are two recommendations for a delicious dinner, especially for seafood lovers.
Downtown Recreation
You can’t visit Ocean Springs without spending some time at the beach, especially on warm summer days when the tropical waters of the Gulf are especially inviting. The town has two public beaches downtown, Front Beach and East Beach. Both are great places to swim thanks to their shallow, calm waters.
Next to Front Beach is Fort Maurepas City Park, the former site of Fort Maurepas, which guarded the Ocean Springs harbor. The park contains a lookout point, picnic tables, public restrooms, and a walking path to the Chester M. McPherson Jr. Fishing Pier.
Annual Events and Festivals
Ocean Springs likes to party and, thanks to its balmy climate, there are lots of opportunities for outdoor festivals all year round.
The festival season kicks off with one of Mississippi’s most legendary traditions, Mardi Gras. Ocean Springs hosts one of the most popular celebrations on the Gulf, known as the Night Parade. The parade proceeds through downtown, starting at Front Beach and moving along Washington Avenue in a vibrant street party filled with lively music and colorful floats.
In March, the Old Fort Bayou waterway, which winds through town, plays host to a fiercely competitive annual race. The Battle On The Bayou is an 8.5-mile kayaking competition that’s as much fun for spectators as it is for competitors. Cheer on your team and join in the victory celebrations at the close of this exciting one-day gala.
If you’re visiting in summer, mark your calendar for the Annual Red, White & Blueberry Festival. Running for over 20 years, the festival turns the downtown train depot into a huge farmers' market with local vendors selling fresh fruits, produce, and blueberry-themed treats.
The Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival is the largest art show in Mississippi, attracting vendors, visitors, and artists from across the country. Taking place in November, the fair welcomes around 400 artists, craftspeople, and food vendors, transforming downtown into an open-air gallery with the atmosphere of a lively street party.
The highlight of the holidays in Ocean Springs is Silent Light, an unforgettable two-day event organized by the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. The glittering festival takes over the downtown streets with performers, art installations, a silent disco, and animated projections of Walter Anderson’s dazzling art.
Only In Ocean Springs
Ocean Springs isn’t your average town, and its main street isn’t your average downtown. Stroll the oak-lined trees to discover a new side of Mississippi in the town’s galleries, museums, beautiful parks, and cozy cafes. Battling back from the brink of destruction, this is a town that knows how to reinvent itself and is thriving as a main street community beloved by locals and visitors. Ocean Springs began when French settlers arrived in the area in 1699 and was known as the City of Discovery. That nickname remains apt to this day as modern explorers discover its charms and attractions.
