AGP Executive Report

Coast Getaways: New hotels are bringing fresh lodging options to the Mississippi Coast, including boutique stays in historic buildings. Amtrak is also adding a temporary Ocean Springs stop for the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival, making the event easier to reach. Farm Fun: Mitchell Farms is marking Agritourism Month with crops and community activities for visitors. Longer Stays: Meridian is working to turn quick stops into longer visits, while Starkville and Ridgeland have earned state tourism awards for initiatives that encourage visitors to stay and play.

Agritourism: Mitchell Farms is celebrating Agritourism Month with crops and community activities, offering visitors a seasonal reason to explore the farm. Coast Stays: New hotels are opening along the Mississippi Coast, including historic properties finding new life as boutique lodging. Festival Travel: Amtrak’s Mardi Gras route will add a temporary stop in Ocean Springs for the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival, giving visitors another way to reach the event. Growing Destinations: Meridian is working to turn quick stops into longer visits, while Visit Jackson has unveiled a five-year plan to grow the city’s visitor economy.

Farm Experiences: Mitchell Farms is marking Mississippi Agritourism Month with seasonal crops and family activities. Rain hurt its pumpkin crop and corn maze, but the farm has kept visitors coming for a fall outing. Coast Stays: New boutique hotels and historic renovations are adding lodging options along the Mississippi Coast. Festival Travel: Amtrak will add a temporary Mississippi Coast stop for Ocean Springs’ Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival, giving visitors another way to reach the event. Longer Visits: Meridian is working to turn quick stopovers into longer stays, while Visit Jackson has outlined a five-year plan to grow the city’s visitor economy.

Festival Travel: Amtrak will add a temporary Ocean Springs stop Nov. 7–8 for the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival, giving visitors an easy ride to an event that draws about 100,000 people and features more than 400 artists, crafters and food vendors. Gulf Coast Rail: The Mardi Gras Service links New Orleans and Mobile with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula; its first year brought more than 150,000 passenger trips. Coast Stays: New hotels are opening along the Mississippi Coast, with boutique lodging and historic properties adding fresh options for visitors. Visitor Growth: Meridian is working to turn quick stopovers into longer stays, while Visit Jackson has unveiled a five-year plan to grow the city’s visitor economy.

Festival Travel: Amtrak will make a temporary Ocean Springs stop Nov. 7–8 for the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival, giving visitors a new way to reach an event that draws about 100,000 people. The train is scheduled to arrive at 9:54 a.m. and depart at 5:28 p.m. Gulf Coast Stays: New hotels are opening along the Mississippi Coast, adding lodging options as the region attracts more visitors. Rail Getaways: A travel report on Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service highlights its twice-daily New Orleans–Mobile trips, with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula. Longer Mississippi Visits: Meridian is working to turn brief stopovers into longer stays, while Visit Jackson has unveiled a five-year plan to grow the city’s visitor economy. Visit Starkville and Ridgeland’s Stay & Play Ball initiative also received state tourism awards.

Coast Lodging: More than a dozen hotels have opened on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in recent years, with more on the way. Gulfport’s projects include the reopened historic Markham Hotel and a 114-room Marriott Tribute hotel planned for next year, as festivals and events drive demand. Visitor Growth: Meridian is working to turn quick stops into longer visits, while Visit Jackson has launched a five-year plan to grow the capital’s visitor economy. Sports Tourism: Visit Starkville and Ridgeland’s Stay & Play Ball program have earned Mississippi tourism awards. Columbus is also considering a partnership to build a regulation baseball field at Propst Park; organizers estimate tournaments could generate about $299,100 a year in visitor spending. Fall Attractions: The Mississippi State Fair has announced its weekend schedule, and the Keesler Federal Mississippi Coast Marathon has unveiled its 2026 finisher medals. The Coast’s Terror on the Coast haunted attraction is also drawing visitors from outside the state.

Coast Sports Tourism: The Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon expects more than 6,000 runners from all 50 states and several countries in December. Organizers say the race is designed to bring visitors to Coast hotels and restaurants during a traditionally quiet weekend. Tourism Initiatives: Visit Starkville received a state tourism organization award, while Meridian is working to turn brief stops into longer stays. Visit Jackson also unveiled a five-year plan to grow the city’s visitor economy. Events & Culture: Mississippi State Fair organizers announced the weekend schedule, and Hispanic Heritage Month festivals are celebrating Latino culture in Jackson and Scott counties. Winter Travel: NOAA’s outlook favors a wetter-than-average winter across the South, so travelers may want to keep rain and localized flooding in mind when planning trips.

Tourism Honors: Visit Starkville won the Mississippi Tourism Association’s award for destination organizations in its budget category, recognized for work in destination development, sports tourism and events. The group reported Oktibbeha County visitor spending rose nearly 8% to $213.1 million in 2025. Coastal Travel: A new guide highlights wheelchair-friendly ways to enjoy Coastal Mississippi, including paved beach paths and a sand-access mat in Gulfport; Amtrak’s Mardi Gras route serves four coast towns. Meridian Momentum: Tourism efforts are turning quick stops in Meridian into longer visits, while Visit Jackson has unveiled a five-year plan to grow the city’s visitor economy. Coastal Watch: A new survey found Mississippi and Louisiana barrier islands are eroding by at least 15 feet a year, underscoring the pressures facing the Gulf shoreline. Fall Events: The Mississippi State Fair has announced its weekend schedule and special events for fairgoers.

Visitor Growth: Mississippi welcomed 45.5 million visitors and generated $12.4 billion in tourism spending, with Meridian turning an interstate stop into a longer stay. Visitors are exploring the Jimmie Rodgers Museum and The MAX. Outdoor Stays: Wall Doxey State Park is planning a $10 million to $12 million makeover, including a revamped campground; several cabins are already renovated, and a large playground is planned. Sports Tourism: Ridgeland’s Stay & Play Ball initiative has won a state tourism advocacy award. Jackson’s Visitor Economy: Visit Jackson has unveiled a five-year plan to grow tourism in the capital. Fall Events: The Mississippi State Fair has announced its weekend schedule and special events for fairgoers.

Jackson Tourism: Visit Jackson unveiled a five-year plan to grow the capital’s visitor economy, building on $80 million in traveler spending in 2025. Research found 67% of visitors return, while nearly half of prospective visitors say they know too little about Jackson. Ridgeland Recreation: The city’s Stay & Play Ball campaign won a state tourism advocacy award for helping secure voter approval of about $40 million in Freedom Ridge Park upgrades, including sports facilities, trails and event space. Holiday Travel: CPKC’s Holiday Train will make its first stops in Mississippi this year as part of a 32-day tour, pairing live music with donations for local food banks. State Fair: The Mississippi State Fair announced its weekend schedule and special events, offering another timely outing for visitors and residents.

Jackson Tourism: Visit Jackson unveiled a five-year plan to grow the city’s visitor economy, building on $80 million in visitor spending in 2025. Research found 67% of visitors are repeat travelers, while nearly half of prospective visitors say they know too little about Jackson. Upcoming Events: The Mississippi State Fair has announced its weekend schedule and special events. Wiggins’ Cabin Festival is also bringing families together for its 48th annual celebration. Coastal Mississippi: Cruisin’ the Coast’s 30th anniversary drew thousands of vintage-car fans, underscoring the Gulf Coast’s pull as an event destination. Road Trips: A new guide shares places to visit on a drive across Mississippi, offering ideas for exploring the state this fall.

Fall Events: The Mississippi State Fair has announced its weekend schedule and special events, while Wiggins Cabin Festival marked its 48th year with a family gathering. Road-trip Ideas: A new guide to driving across Mississippi highlights stops for travelers exploring the state from end to end. Coastal Tourism: Cruisin’ the Coast’s 30th anniversary drew thousands of vintage-car enthusiasts, spotlighting the Gulf Coast’s pull for major events.

Road-Trip Ideas: A travel writer’s 450-mile drive through Mississippi highlights the state’s rich mix of Delta blues, history, landscapes and small-city stops, with Jackson among the recommendations. What’s On: The Mississippi State Fair has announced its weekend schedule and special events, while Wiggins prepares for its 48th annual Cabin Festival, a family-focused celebration. Coast & Cruising: Biloxi’s Shaggy’s has opened a new beachside Crab House, adding another dining option for visitors. Cruisin’ the Coast’s 30th anniversary also drew thousands of vintage-car fans to the Gulf Coast.

State Fair: The Mississippi State Fair went ahead Oct. 10–11, with rodeos, a midway parade, livestock shows and family attractions after Hurricane Isaias shifted east. Coastal Events: Cruisin’ the Coast drew thousands for its 30th anniversary, with organizers adjusting the schedule as Isaias approached; Bay St. Louis still welcomed car enthusiasts. Biloxi Dining: Shaggy’s has opened a new crab house on Biloxi beach, adding another food stop for visitors. Tourism Growth: Mississippi welcomed a record 45.5 million visitors in 2025, generating $18.9 billion in economic impact.

Gulf Coast Travel: Florida crews reopened Grayton Beach State Park after repairing storm damage and cleared I-10 and U.S. 98 following Hurricane Isaias. Mississippi’s Jackson County reported minimal impacts, while Cruisin’ the Coast adjusted its schedule as the storm approached. Tourism Growth: Mississippi welcomed a record 45.5 million visitors in 2025, generating a record $18.9 billion in economic impact.

Gulf Coast Events: Cruisin’ the Coast brought thousands of vintage-car enthusiasts to the Mississippi coast for its 30th anniversary, giving visitors another reason to explore the region. Travel Conditions: Hurricane Isaias caused minimal impacts in Jackson County, but downed trees, flooding and lingering coastal hazards across the Gulf region may still affect travel. Fall Outings: Mississippi’s 2026 State Fair is underway in Jackson; a visitor guide offers practical details for planning a trip.