THE DOUGLAS ADAMS EDITORIAL SERIES
Market Insight • Property Strategy • New Orleans & Mississippi
Updated October 2026
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Saturday, October 17, 2026, is one of the fullest days on the Bay St. Louis fall calendar. Fall for Art, the Art Without Walls market hosted by The Arts, Hancock County, runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mamie Hillery Arts Center, 405 Blaize Avenue. That evening, the Seventh Annual Boo in the Bay Parade rolls through Old Town at 5:30 p.m.
Puddy Robinson and I are also hosting an open house at 124 S. Court Street, directly on the parade route, beginning at 11 a.m. and continuing into the evening.
Both public events are free to attend. Plan to walk, arrive early, and park well away from the parade route.
WHAT IS FALL FOR ART?
Art Without Walls is the outdoor art market organized by The Arts, Hancock County, a nonprofit arts organization. Fall for Art is its October edition. Juried member artists sell original work, including painting, pottery, jewelry, fiber arts, and mixed media. The market also offers live music, free children's activities, and discounts from participating local businesses.
The setting is worth the visit on its own. The Mamie Hillery Arts Center's sculpture garden added its first permanent commissioned piece in January 2026, "The Echo," a 10-foot sculpture by Erica Larkin Gaudet.
When: Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Mamie Hillery Arts Center, 405 Blaize Avenue, Bay St. Louis
Cost: Free
WHAT IS BOO IN THE BAY?
Boo in the Bay is a Halloween parade of decorated golf carts, Jeeps, and classic cars, with riders in costume tossing candy, trinkets, toys, and light-ups to the crowd. The 2026 parade is the seventh, and it rolls at 5:30 p.m. in Old Town.
The parade has grown quickly. In 2024, more than 1,200 costumed riders and units took part. In 2025, New Orleans rapper Choppa served as grand marshal as hundreds of decorated carts rolled through downtown.
When: Saturday, October 17, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Old Town Bay St. Louis
Cost: Free to watch
WHERE DOES THE PARADE GO?
The parade rolls through Old Town and passes directly in front of 124 S. Court Street. In recent years, units have lined up at the Bay St. Louis Train Depot and traveled along Bookter Street, Union Street, Second Street, Court Street, South Beach Boulevard, Ulman Avenue, and Main Street, ending near Main Street and Necaise Avenue. Check for any last-minute changes before choosing where to stand.
OPEN HOUSE AT 124 S. COURT STREET
Puddy Robinson and I are hosting an open house at 124 S. Court Street in Old Town Bay St. Louis on Saturday, October 17, beginning at 11 a.m. and continuing into the evening.
The Boo in the Bay Parade passes directly in front of the building, and Crescent Sotheby's International Realty agents will be on hand all day and into the evening to show the property. 124 S. Court Street is a new mixed-use building of luxury condominiums and commercial space in the center of Old Town, within walking distance of the beach, Main Street, and the arts center.
Stop in between the art market and the parade, tour the residences, and see Old Town from a different point of view. Agents are welcome to tour the property and bring their clients.
When: Saturday, October 17, 11 a.m. until
Where: 124 S. Court Street, Bay St. Louis, MS
HOW SHOULD YOU PLAN THE DAY?
Start at the art market in the morning, when artists are fresh and the selection is at its best. Spend the afternoon in Old Town, where restaurants, galleries, and shops are within walking distance of one another, and stop by the open house at 124 S. Court Street. Claim a spot along the route before 5:30 p.m.
A few practical points:
Park once and walk. In past years, organizers asked spectators to arrive on foot, with no parking on the Depot grounds.
Arrive early. Popular stretches near the beach and Main Street fill well ahead of the start.
Bring a bag for throws, water, and a light layer for after sunset.
Make dinner plans in advance. Old Town restaurants are busy on parade nights.
WHAT ELSE IS ON THE BAY ST. LOUIS CALENDAR THIS FALL?
October 17 is not an isolated weekend. The fall calendar in Old Town continues through the end of the year:
Witches Walk, October 23-24: A costumed street celebration in Old Town that benefits the Old Town Merchants Association.
Art Without Walls, November 14: The monthly market returns to 405 Blaize Avenue.
Christmas in the Bay, November 28: The City's holiday parade, ending at the Train Depot, scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Confirm the date with the City before making plans.
Art Without Walls Holiday Market, December 12.
Second Saturday: Every month, Old Town hosts art, music, food, and shopping, busiest from roughly 4 to 7 p.m.
WHAT DOES A DAY LIKE THIS SAY ABOUT LIVING IN BAY ST. LOUIS?
A parade and an art market are not reasons to buy a home. They do show how a place works. In Bay St. Louis, the arts center, the depot, the beach, and the Main Street restaurants sit close enough together that a full day can happen on foot. For many residents, that walkable core is the point. I wrote more about that rhythm in What Is It Like to Live in Bay St. Louis? The Rhythm of Second Saturday.
If you are weighing a move, look past the event weekend. Study flood zone and elevation, homeowners and wind insurance, condominium association rules and budgets, parking, and how a street feels on an ordinary Tuesday. For waterfront property, this guide to buying a waterfront home in Bay St. Louis covers the questions that matter most.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What time does Boo in the Bay start in 2026?
The Seventh Annual Boo in the Bay Parade rolls at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Where is Fall for Art?
At the Mamie Hillery Arts Center, 405 Blaize Avenue, Bay St. Louis, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Is there an open house during Boo in the Bay?
Yes. Douglas Adams and Puddy Robinson of Crescent Sotheby's International Realty are hosting an open house at 124 S. Court Street from 11 a.m. into the evening. The parade passes directly in front of the building.
Are the events free?
Yes. Both the art market and the parade are free to attend.
Where should I park?
Park away from the route and walk in. Organizers have asked spectators not to park on the Depot grounds.
What other fall events are coming up in Bay St. Louis?
Witches Walk on October 23-24, Art Without Walls on November 14, Christmas in the Bay on November 28, and the Art Without Walls Holiday Market on December 12.
MY PERSPECTIVE
What I love about a fall Saturday in Bay St. Louis is watching people take their time.
Children with painted faces hop and skip beside their parents, moving from an art display to an antique shop, finding something else to stop and look at along the way. Under an oak tree, longtime neighbors catch up over a glass of lemonade, some seeing each other for the first time after a long, hot summer.
Then there’s that smell—candied apples, caramel, popcorn, and funnel cakes. For me, that’s when it finally feels like fall.
Saturday, October 17, is a day to spend in the Bay. Fall for Art begins at 10 a.m. at the Mamie Hillery Arts Center, with local art, live music, and activities for children until 2 p.m. That evening, the Seventh Annual Boo in the Bay Parade rolls through Old Town at 5:30 p.m.
I love seeing first-time weekend visitors alongside people who made Bay St. Louis their home—or their home away from home—decades ago. Everyone has their own connection to this place, and on a day like this, you get to see those connections happening all around you.
That’s what I want to share when I talk about living here: the pleasure of being part of the day. Walking around, running into someone you know, meeting someone you don’t, and staying a little longer than you planned.
My new guide has the event details, parking suggestions, and more of what’s coming through December. Come spend the day—and while you’re in town, drop by 124 S. Court Street and say hello. I’d love to see you.
THE BOTTOM LINE
October 17 gives Bay St. Louis a full day: original art in the morning, an open house at 124 S. Court Street from 11 a.m., and a parade at dusk that passes right out front. Walk, arrive early, and leave time to wander.
If a Saturday in Old Town has you wondering what it would be like to live in Bay St. Louis, I am available to walk you through neighborhoods, condominiums near Old Town, insurance and flood considerations, and current pricing with local context.
Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams Real Estate with Crescent Sotheby's International Realty
617 Julia St, New Orleans, LA 70130 | 504-444-8670
Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
About the Author
Douglas Adams is a Global Real Estate Advisor with Crescent Sotheby's International Realty serving Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Through The Douglas Adams Editorial Series, he explores the history, architecture, neighborhoods, and communities that make the Gulf South such a remarkable place to call home. Every article is informed by firsthand experience, original photography, professional research, and a passion for telling the stories that exist beyond the front door.
