MOSS POINT— Bird enthusiasts are migrating to Moss Point for the 7th Annual Hummingbird Festival hosted by the Pascagoula River Audubon Center.
The festival kicks off on Friday, September 26, at 9 a.m. and will feature guest speakers, live music, local crafts, children’s activities, and entertainment for visitors of all ages. The highlight of the event will be the capture and banding of hummingbirds as they make their fall migration toward South America.
Hummingbirds, especially the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, travel the Mississippi flyway twice each year. Their southward migration begins in mid to late August and continues until the temperatures cool, and in March they make their way north again to spend the summer months in the United States.
The Pascagoula River Audubon Center, located at 5107 Arthur Street one block west of Main Street in downtown Moss Point, overlooks Rhodes Bayou. Free parking is available throughout downtown. Admission to the festival is $8 for adults and $3 for youth ages 3 to 18. Tickets include access to bird banding, guest presentations, interactive storytelling and drumming, a petting zoo, and more. Freedom Ranch will also host a birds of prey demonstration, and a variety of vendors will showcase unique crafts and nature-inspired creations.
Because the center is dedicated to conservation, the festival’s mission is to promote bird-friendly habitats while providing education that helps visitors recreate those habitats at home. The site itself demonstrates those practices with native plants, permeable gravel paths, and other features that model how to support a healthy ecosystem.
Mary Rodgers, Senior Manager of the Pascagoula River Audubon Center, shared that the festival grows bigger and better each year, with new activities and expanded conservation talks. She explained that the event offers something for everyone—whether you love science, nature, or simply the chance to enjoy a beautiful day outdoors. The true stars, though, are the migrating hummingbirds, which Rodgers described as remarkable little acrobats with wings that can beat up to 70 times per second, and in some movements, as fast as 200 beats per second.
She added that the festival is designed to be fun and laid-back, with food trucks, arts and crafts, vendors, and easy access to downtown Moss Point businesses via a convenient shuttle. Rodgers encouraged the community to come out, relax, and enjoy the experience while also helping to raise awareness about bird conservation and the importance of protecting natural habitats.
The Audubon Center reminds visitors that the Hummingbird Festival is a special opportunity to celebrate nature, support conservation, and create lasting memories with family and friends.
For more information and a full schedule of events, follow the Pascagoula River Audubon Center on Facebook or call 228.475.0825.
