Hattiesburg Welcomes Fall With Events and Attractions for the Whole Family
HATTIESBURG (OCT. 16, 2023) — This fall, this premier city in the Gulf South will come alive with spooky attractions, movie showings, local culinary events and more. Visitors and locals are encouraged to enjoy seasonal festivities in Hattiesburg this October, including many special events, shopping, and dining.
“October is one of the busiest months in Hattiesburg, which makes it fun time to work alongside our partners to promote Hattiesburg as a spooky and quirky destination for fall fun. From the heart of downtown, all the way through the avenues, midtown, and out west, there’s something happening all month long,” Marlo Dorsey, CEO of VisitHATTIESBURG, said. “Whether you’re looking for a bone-chilling night of scares or a family-friendly evening of excitement, we hope you’ll join us in Hattiesburg this season.”
Here are just a few happenings to get you in the spooky spirit:
EVENTS
Hot Glass Festival – Oct. 20 - 21
Celebrating its 8th season of glass blowing, Mohawk Steel & Glass ushers in the season with its annual Hot Glass Festival. Crowds will enjoy the 30-acre Christmas tree farm, haunted hayrides, and learn about glass blowing through demonstrations. New this year is the Blacksmith Forging Competition, where local Smiths will make blades and test them for sharpness and durability. Anvils will ring alongside hot forges as knifemakers demonstrate techniques and converse with the crowds. There will also be live music, a bonfire, and food on site. For more information, visit HotGlassMS.com
Zoo Boo – Oct. 20 - 30
Held on the grounds of the Hattiesburg Zoo, Zoo Boo features Halloween-themed fun for all ages. The “Creepy Cantina” and “Goblin Grill” will serve up some spooky specials, and activities such as “The Haunted High Ropes Adventure Course” and “The Petrifying Petting Zoo” will help you get in the Halloween spirit. For more information on the 10-night event, visit https://hattiesburgzoo.com/.
Scary Movie Saturday – Oct. 21
Whether a family-friendly movie or a horror classic, Hattiesburg has just the flick for you on this Scary Movie Saturday in downtown Hattiesburg. Hattiesburg Parks and Recreation is hosting a free showing of “Monsters, Inc,” (G) for families followed by “Night of the Living Dead” (R) for adults in Town Square Park. Across the district, The Lucky Rabbit is also showing “Scream” (R) in PickNik Park. Both showings will have food and drink vendors available, and guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets for seating. For more information, visit The Lucky Rabbit or Hattiesburg Parks and Recreation on Facebook.
Coffee or Death – Oct. 21
Celebrating its yearly collaboration with Grin Coffee, Southern Prohibition Brewery invites all to the taproom for a delicious pop-up event – Coffee or Death. Crafty concoctions and elevated bites are on the menu, all paired with the Berserker Mode nitro brew. For more information, visit Southern Prohibition on Facebook.
Little Shop of Horrors – Oct. 26-29 and Oct. 31
At the newly renovated Paper Warehouse Theater in the Hattiesburg Community Arts Center, The Hub City Players present Little Shop of Horrors. This classic horror musical comedy, based on a 1960 film by Roger Corman and later adapted into a hit 1986 film by Frank Oz, promises an unforgettable showcase of talent. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.hubcityplayers.com.
Rocky Horror Picture Show – Oct. 27
Shivering with antici…pation? The wait is almost over for the Historic Saenger Theater’s annual showing of cult-classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show” This year’s event will once again include a block party beginning one hour prior to showtime, a costume contest, interactive prop bags for purchase, and a live performance that occurs in tandem with the movie showing. Costumes and audience participation are highly encouraged. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit HattiesburgSaenger.com.
Booseum at the Museum – Oct. 27
Booseum, which is the African American Military History Museum’s annual Halloween event, is geared toward children ages 3 to 12 years of age. The Museum comes to life after hours with fangtastic decor, wicked games, creepy-crawly crafts and some howling good food. Guests are encouraged to dress in their favorite Halloween costume and participate in the costume contest. The night will end with a spooktacular trick-or-treat tour. For more information, call (601) 450.1942.
Dead Author’s Eve – Oct. 28
Celebrate dead authors and their beloved characters at The Author Shoppe, downtown Hattiesburg’s local bookstore. The best dead author costume and the spookiest scary story will
win a prize. This year, there will also be karaoke. For more information, visit The Author Shoppe on Facebook.
Halloween Silent Movie – Oct. 31
Enjoy this Halloween tradition at The University of Southern Mississippi School of Music… if you dare. For adults only, this free showing of the French serial film "Les Vampires" (1915) at USM Marsh Auditorium is accompanied live on the pipe organ by Douglas Rust. Two episodes from the series will be screened with English intertitles: "I: The Severed Head" (33 minutes) and "VI: The Eyes That Mesmerize" (52 minutes). For more information, visit https://calendar.usm.edu/.
ATTRACTIONS
Lucky Rabbit
A self-proclaimed junk shop spanning over two buildings, The Lucky Rabbit features a variety of vendors who specialize in vintage, collectible, antique, nostalgic, and handmade items. This Hattiesburg staple just celebrated its 10-year anniversary and has been featured on HGTV’s Home Town multiple times. The Lucky Rabbit’s owners frequently recreate popular television and movie sets as free photo ops in the store. The current sets include the dorm room from Netflix’s Wednesday (Grocery Building) and the house from the Halloween movie franchise (Hardware Building). Past sets have included Stranger Things, The Office, Schitt’s Creek, Home Alone, and Griswold Family Vacation. For more information, visit The Lucky Rabbit on Facebook.
Hattiesbones Skeletour
A first-time attraction in downtown, many small businesses came together this Halloween season to create an engaging tour throughout the district using 12-foot skeletons. Each skeleton is stationed in front of a retailer, restaurant, or attraction in downtown, encouraging pedestrian traffic throughout. Each business decorated its skeleton with a theme that tied into its business or inspired the downtown aesthetic. More than thirteen skeletons have a unique QR code that, when scanned, displays the skeleton’s fictional backstory and details about the business.
“As a small business owner, I know that retail is not about selling a product, it’s about building a relationship! The Skeletour is a fun and quirky way to explore downtown and discover more of what it has to offer,” Adrienne Hicks, owner of longtime downtown business Blooms Company, said. “We can’t wait for next year and for this idea to grow into something bigger!”
Stops on the Hattiesbones Skeletour include Blooms Company, City Hall, Gratefull Soul, Hardy St. Roundabout, Hattiesburg Pocket Museum, Mackenzie’s on Main, Oh Snap! Selfie Museum, Southbound Bagel & Coffee, The Lucky Rabbit, Twin Forks Wine & Provisions, and Walnut Square Gifts. For more information, visit The Lucky Rabbit or Blooms Company on Facebook.
ABOUT HATTIESBURG, MS
A premier city in the Gulf South, Hattiesburg blends culture, art, food and history, making it a modern Southern destination. Known as the birthplace of Rock N’ Roll and site of one of the
most significant social movements in U.S. history, Hattiesburg’s roots run deep. Today, the city is an emerging civil rights destination, preserving and telling history through attractions like the 1964 Freedom Summer Trail and East Sixth Street Museum District. A creative community adds flair through locally owned restaurants, craft breweries, vibrant public art and boutique shops. For more information, visit www.visithburg.org.
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