Hattiesburg Packs Weekend Schedule With Parades, Food, and Live Music
Residents can attend nine free or low-cost events in the Pine Belt region, ranging from a Halloween parade to a dog festival and a charity concert benefiting local hunger relief.
By Jason Lee ·
Nine community events are scheduled across the Pine Belt region for the upcoming holiday weekend, with most activities offering free admission to attendees. The calendar runs from Thursday, October 29, through Sunday, November 1, covering Hattiesburg and nearby Petal.
The weekend opens on Thursday with the 14th Annual Halloween Parade at 5:30 p.m. The route begins at Parkway Heights Methodist Church and concludes on Hutchinson Avenue. On the same day, Carey Opera & Musical Theatre begins a three-night run of THE ADDAMS FAMILY at 7 p.m. at William Carey University. Tickets for the musical are available for purchase online.
Saturday, October 31, features the highest concentration of activities. The Dia de los Muertos Parade starts at 4 p.m. at the RSJ Community Arts Center and ends at The Creators Plaza. Earlier in the day, the Halloween Art Market occupies the same arts center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pet owners can visit Barktoberfest 2026 at the Southern Pines Animal Shelter from noon to 2 p.m. The event is free, though donations are encouraged.
Paul B. Johnson State Park hosts a Fall Festival on Saturday that requires standard park admission. The schedule includes a Kids Fishing Rodeo with prizes for tagged fish from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Games and a cake walk are scheduled for noon on the back deck of the Park Office. A costume contest takes place at the Main Office at 4 p.m., followed by trick-or-treating from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Awards for the best decorated camper and golf cart will be presented at 9 p.m.
In Petal, the Macedonia Volunteer Fire Department hosts the 2nd Annual Car Show and Chili Cookoff at Macedonia Baptist Church from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vehicle registration costs $25, while armbands for the chili cookoff are priced at $10. In downtown Hattiesburg, the 6th Annual Taste of the South Food Truck Festival runs on Main Street from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at no cost to attendees.
The weekend concludes on Sunday, November 1, with the Play it Forward concert at Keg and Barrel Downtown from noon to 9:15 p.m. Seven local acts will perform, including Stephen Wade Scott, Grace Manor Haints, Jacob Arnold & The Bird Dogs, Rufus McBlack, Electric Ramble, The Iceman Special, and Grits & Greens. Admission is a $15 suggested donation, with 100% of proceeds going to Extra Table to help feed hungry Mississippians.
Source: WHPM-LD
