While white sandy beaches and water as far as they eye can see are the first thoughts of visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as Shrek may say, the Gulf Coast is like an onion and it has many layers. To truly understand its beauty and importance, peel back the layers and discover what is behind the curtain of white sand and water.
One of the best ways to discover all the layers of what makes the Mississippi Gulf Coast so wonderful is to attend the Celebrate the Gulf Marine Education Festival in Pass Christian. The annual festival is held each April in conjunction with Art in the Pass at Memorial Park under a canopy of live oak trees and features exhibitors, live animal shows, photo booths and activities for children of all ages.
Jennifer Cumbest, education coordinator at the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, is this year’s event coordinator, and she said it is going to be educational overload for guests of all ages. Now in its 35th year, the award-winning festival is proud to have received Gulf Guardian Awards in 2005 and 2019 is designed to teach residents and visitors about the importance of the Gulf of Mexico.
“The mission of the festival is to encourage family environmental stewardship,” Mrs. Cumbest said. “Protecting the beauty and ecological importance of the Gulf of Mexico is the responsibility of everyone.”
Cumbest encourages attendance to enjoy more than 35 guest exhibitors who will share information about the local upland habitats and wildlife along with the recreation and commercial services provided by the Gulf of America.
“Celebrate the Gulf is a chance for coastal residents and visitors to learn about the amazing people and organizations working to study and protect our Gulf,” Mrs. Cumbest said. “Education is the strongest tool we have to continue being successful in protecting the Gulf, so at Celebrate the Gulf we get to play a small role in that education!”
A festival favorite is securing a free festival poster signed by the winning artist Samantha Savage of Pascagoula. Samantha’s design will be featured as the official artwork for this year’s festival. She will be in attendance at the festival handing out free posters and offering signatures during the festival.
Festivalgoers will have an opportunity to speak to Student Science Showcase winners to learn about the science local students are doing within the coastal communities, enjoy a free family caricature or photo booth, and there will be a variety of free activities for children of all ages.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Grand Bay NERR Events website at grandbaynerr.org/celebrate-the-gulf/.
