Mississippi’s largest fine arts festival is back. The 47th annual Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival will overtake the streets of downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Nov. 8, and Sunday, Nov. 9, drawing thousands of art-lovers from across the country.
The free festival, named in honor of the original potter at Shearwater Pottery, will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day with attendees able to enjoy live music, art vendors, demonstrations, and children’s activities.
Over 100,000 visitors attend the event each year, along with over 400 artists who put their skills on display. Artists can be seen painting, sculpting, and even firing up some pottery like Anderson would have done. Some of the creations made on site will immediately be available for purchase with artists bringing plenty of their already-created work for attendees to buy.
Musicians will be spread throughout the festival, as well, with signs set up directing people to various concerts.
Also on site will be a hands-on marine education area led by the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory at the University of Southern Mississippi featuring a variety of displays, artifacts and activities. At the corner of Washington Street and Porter Avenue, there will be an interactive police box that’s a replication of the TARDIS from “Doctor Who” and promises to make people feel like they’re traveling through time while enjoying freeze-dried snacks.
The “Young at Art” children’s market will be available for those ages 8 to 18. Young art entrepreneurs will exhibit their one-of-a-kind items for purchase on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the Walter Anderson Museum of Art.
The festival will result in the following streets being closed:
- Washington Avenue from Calhoun Street to Bienville Boulevard
- Government Street from Washington Avenue to Magnolia Street
- Porter Avenue from Bellande Avenue to Jackson Avenue
- DeSoto Street from Cash Alley to Church Street
Robinson Street will be open only to residential traffic.
Attendees can park at Greyhound Stadium, Ocean Springs Upper Elementary School, or Oak Park and catch a shuttle to the festival. Coast Transit Authority and YMCA buses will run every 30 minutes from the parking lots to the festival entrance on Government and Porter Avenue. Limited handicap parking is available at City Hall and the Ocean Springs Library, and a wheelchair accessible drop-off point will be at the Porter Avenue entrance. A map can be found here.
The full festival guide for the 47th annual Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival can be found here.
