Christmas In The Pass

Pass Christian hosts one of Mississippi's best-known yuletide celebrations, Christmas in the Pass, which is a prelude to the approaching holidays. Founded by local merchants since 1985, but avidly embraced by much of the community, the Christmas prelude features: Mid-town street malls that have been closed to traffic, merchant open-houses, caroling, concerts, craft fairs, a brilliantly lighted boat parade, a Santa Claus parade, tree-lighting ceremonies, and holiday merriment. Each year the merchants and the community add new festivities in preparation to greeting thousands of guests who arrive to promenade throughout the barricaded, traffic-free streets in a cheerful, open-air arena. On the first Friday of December, holiday revelers are treated to a tree-lighting ceremony as Santa Clause arrives with his elves in a reindeer drawn sleigh. Concert bands and choral groups cheerfully promote a holiday atmosphere for the merry making with the sing-along audience. Merchants host open-houses offering snacks of yuletide cookies and candies with hot or cold beverages. The City of Pass Christian commemorates the Christmas Season each year by transforming itself into an enchanting Holiday Showcase.