The Harrison County Fairgrounds & Equestrian Center is gearing up for its 26th annual Gulf Coast Winter Classic, an entertaining and fun-filled equestrian event for the entire family. Everyone is invited to come watch the horse jumping competition for six weeks on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Each week starting February 15 and running through March 24, attendees can expect skilled riders and trained horses in competition as they take on a series of log fences and a challenging timed obstacle course. Mark your calendar with the following dates.
Week 1: February 15 – February 18
Week 2: February 21 – February 25
Week 3: February 28 – March 3
Week 4: March 6 – March 10
Week 5: March 13 – March 17
Week 6: March 20 – March 24
The beautiful and well-maintained fairgrounds in Gulfport are the backdrop to Olympic-caliber horse riding. With riders at many levels of skill, thousands of competitors attend and compete for prize money and awards. Last year, in 2023, over $125,000 was awarded. This year, prizes are expected to range from $25,000 to $50,000 weekly.
A popular event is the Sunday jumping show that starts at 2 p.m. each week. The Fairgrounds open at 8 a.m. providing plenty of time to tour the grounds and shop.
The Gulf Coast Winter Classic embraces the joy of the equestrian lifestyle. Come and tour the grounds, shop for riding gear, and watch as the riders prepare their horses for the competition. This outdoor event is exciting and is sure to ignite your passion for the sport with top riders with magnificent horses.
There is no spectator fee as admission to the grounds is always free.
For the past 26 years, this event has contributed over a half billion dollars to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Participants come from across the U.S. and Canada and stay on the Coast, eat at local restaurants, and bring visitors from arounf the world. The Gulf Coast Winter Classic is a truly welcoming event for everyone. Come check out all the high-jumping action and see for yourself what all the excitement is about.