Christmas at Mississippi Aquarium

Date: Nov 28 - Dec 23, 2025

Time: 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM

A Magical Mississippi Christmas

is BACK with all new offerings + great things to SEA and do!

A Magical Mississippi Christmas Presented by Gulfport Coca-Cola® Bottling Company, UNITED is THE nighttime holiday event at Mississippi Aquarium!

SELECT DATES - November 28-December 23!

The magic starts nightly at 4:30pm and runs until 8:00pm each night!

Ticketing and Main Gate close at 7:30pm nightly.

Tickets are JUST $15 for adults and $5 for children!

Guests will be able to experience the aquarium at night and enjoy special nighttime dolphin Presentations, a wonderous & festive light display, a projection mapping show featuring four animated penguins, Santa's Workshop, Diving Elves, Special Guests, and so much more!

Ask a Ticketing Ambassador for an Event Schedule during your visit.

*There is no reciprocal entry for 2025 with Mississippi Aquarium's a Magical Mississippi Christmas and Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival.

A Magical Mississippi Christmas is a separate event offering with special pricing.

Annual Pass Holders receive a huge discount at the gate. Tickets can be purchased online below or at the gate. Annual Pass Holders can reach out to the AP ConSEAeirge at annualpassholder@msaquarium.org to purchase their discounted tickets!

Proceeds from this event go toward the on-campus habitat for our endangered African Penguins.

Mississippi Aquarium is still open for daytime hours daily at the regular rate, with holiday hours of 10:00am to 4:30pm. Campus will transform starting at 4:30pm each day with last daytime general admission entry at 4:00pm and then reopen for A Magical Mississippi Christmas at 4:30pm.

A Magical Mississippi Christmas at Mississippi Aquarium will NOT be open on December 5th, and December 6th.

Holiday Evening Schedule

Stay tuned for announcements of special guests and more!

Mississippi Aquarium will close their admission at 7:30pm each night.

GRAND OPENING - Friday, November 28 - 4:30pm-8:00pm
Saturday, November 29 - 4:30pm-8:00pm

Sunday, November 30 - 4:30pm-8:00pm
Monday, December 1 - No Nighttime Holiday Offering
Tuesday, December 2 - No Nighttime Holiday Offering
Wednesday, December 3 - No Nighttime Holiday Offering
Thursday, December 4 - No Nighttime Holiday Offering
Friday, December 5 - CLOSED FOR A PRIVATE EVENT
Saturday, December 6 - CLOSED FOR A PRIVATE EVENT

Sunday, December 7 - 4:30pm-8:00pm
Monday, December 8 - No Nighttime Holiday Offering
Tuesday, December 9 - No Nighttime Holiday Offering
Wednesday, December 10 - No Nighttime Holiday Offering
Thursday, December 11 - No Nighttime Holiday Offering
Friday, December 12 - 4:30pm-8:00pm
Saturday, December 13 - 4:30pm-8:00pm

Sunday, December 14 - 4:30pm-8:00pm
Monday, December 15 - 4:30pm-8:00pm
Tuesday, December 16 - 4:30pm-8:00pm
Wednesday, December 17 - 4:30pm-8:00pm
Thursday, December 18 - 4:30pm-8:00pm
Friday, December 19 - 4:30pm-8:00pm
Saturday, December 20 - 4:30pm-8:00pm

Sunday, December 21 - 4:30pm-8:00pm
Monday, December 22 - 4:30pm-8:00pm
Tuesday, December 23 - 4:30pm-8:00pm

Mississippi Aquarium will only be open until 3pm for General Admission on Wednesday, December 24 in observance of Christmas Eve.

Mississippi Aquarium will be closed all day on Thursday, December 25 in observance of Christmas.

Want to bring a group of 15+ to experience the joy and magic together? Connect with us about special group rates and packages at sales@msaquarium.org

More Information

Annual Pass Holders
As an added bonus, Annual Pass holders receive a huge discount on admission to A Magical Mississippi Christmas. This event is not included with Annual Pass benefits. Annual Pass holders can purchase tickets at the gate and must present valid annual pass and ID to receive discounted pricing of $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Ticket Booth
Event entrance closes at 7:30pm each night.

Parking
The Coast Transit Authority Parking Garage adjacent to the Mississippi Aquarium will be available for parking free of charge on the nights of the event.

Special Thanks
This special holiday event is made possible by the generosity of Gulfport Coca-Cola® Bottling Company, UNITED.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from your friends at Mississippi Aquarium!

Important Notice

Daytime tickets cannot be used for this special nighttime event.
The Aquarium will close to the public for daytime hours at 4:30pm, and gates reopen at 5:30pm for A Magical Mississippi Christmas presented by Gulfport Coca-Cola Bottling Company, UNITED.

Nighttime tickets cannot be used for Daytime Mississippi Aquarium admission.

A Magical Mississippi Christmas Event Tickets

A Magical Mississippi Christmas FAQ's

Is the event indoors or outdoors?

Are tickets available at the gate?

Will Santa be there?

What will be open at night?

What happens if it rains?

If I purchased tickets to visit the aquarium during the day, are they still good for this nighttime offering?

Will there be real penguins at the event?

What all will be happening at campus during the event?

Will there be food and beverages at this event?