3rd Annual Capital City Lights - December 1, 2023

Capital City Lights returns for its third annual seasonal event on Friday, December 1 starting at 4:00 PM. This holiday spectacular brings the collaborative efforts of multiple organizations to Downtown Jackson to usher in a season of joy in the City With Soul. The event, presented in part by Visit Jackson and Downtown Jackson Partners will feature family-friendly activities, shopping, tours, and more centered on Capitol Street.

Organizations and businesses from throughout Jackson are represented at the event, each bringing a unique activity or flavor to the festivities. Returning this year is the collaboration with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) for their Christmas by Candlelight Tour that will allow participants tours of downtown museums with a connecting shuttle service.

Additional Capital City Lights events throughout downtown Jackson that night include a holiday-themed marketplace courtesy of Magnolia Sunset Markets, the AIA Mississippi Holiday Storefront Competition (register to participate here), Ballet Mississippi’s presentation of “The Nutcracker,” The Westin’s Festival of Trees, food trucks, kids activities and more. The City of Jackson will celebrate the event with its annual tree lighting from 5 - 6 pm at Jackson City Hall.

Events

Epic Funk Brass Band - roaming around and playing the event throughout the night

Mississippi Department of Archives and History Christmas by Candlelight Tour 2023 - Live Music * Holiday Decorations * Treats * Model Trains * Shopping

Visit the Mississippi State Capitol, Mississippi Governor's Mansion, Old Capitol Museum, Museum of Mississippi History, and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum from 4-8 pm.

Park and take advantage of the shuttle buses running between sites. Walk or drive and come and go on your own schedule. The shuttle buses will stop running at 8 p.m.

1 - Sessions Jazz Ensemble (5-8 pm), Chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives are open for all to enter, Offices of the Speaker of the House and the Governor are available for viewing, Stop by the Capitol Gift Shop for that special Christmas gift - MS State Capitol

2 - Johnson Elementary School Choir (5 pm), Jim Hill High School Choir (6 pm), Germantown High School Choir (7 pm), Model trains and town of Possum Ridge on second floor, Shop at the Mississippi Museum Store, Holiday craft activity, choirs (5-8 pm) - Two Mississippi Museums

3 - Holmes County Central High School Singers (6-6:45 pm), Enjoy festive holiday lighting, traditional decorations, and faux snow on the grounds, Eudora Welty House & Garden staff will offer holiday ornament crafts in the North Corridor - Old Capitol Museum

14 - Photo with Santa Claus, Trackless train rides, Hot cocoa and cookies, Self-guided tours of the historic mansion and East Garden; Outside - Jackson Zoo, AZA Chapter, and The Bean Path and Spark-O-Matic - MS Governor's Mansion

Watch the commercial


7 - Emergency Services Vehicles on Display - Touch-A-Truck-style - State at Capitol Street


8 - Capital City Pride Bar - Featuring wine and speciality drinks for purchase - President at Capitol Street - 4-9 pm


9 - City With Soul Sounds and Info
Featuring a mix of music by DJ Unpredictable. Entertainment sponsored by MWB - President at Capitol Street - 5-8 pm


10 - AIA Mississippi Holiday Storefront Competition
Area architectural firms, interior designers, event planner, downtown businesses and more compete with magical storefront displays. Vote via QR code in each window.


11 - City of Jackson Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony (City Hall) featuring live performances by Clausell Elementary School Dance Team, Cordoza Middle School Choir, Boyd Elementary Cheer Squad, Champion Dance Team and Montage of Dance and Callaway High School Men’s Chorale. City of Jackson Benefits Administrator, Rod Oliver will DJ the ceremony. Join them as they lead a second line from City Hall to Capitol Street. 5pm – Program Begins | 5:45pm – Official tree lighting | 6pm – Second line march


12 - Magnolia Sunset Markets - Featuring a selection of vendors - over two dozen - showcasing artisan merchandise, foods and more - Across from the Heritage Building on Capitol Street (Capitol at Congress) - 4-9 pm


13 - Mississippi Museum of Art Pop-Up Shop - Holiday card making, items from the museum store, limited number of free tickets to the current special exhibitions, Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds and Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations - Outside of Lamar Life Building


15 - Come celebrate Visit Jackson’s 40th anniversary with cookies, hot cocoa, photos with Santa and 10% off merchandise storewide and food trucks - JXN Welcome Center - 4-8 pm


16 - Holiday Happy Hour, Views & Decorations and tours of the new 20th-floor rooftop bar - Capital Club


17 - Iconic cross will be lit , drumline on Congress Street, model apartment tours, 20th floor rooftop will be open with a complimentary signature cocktail - Capital Towers Building


18 - Clock Tower lit in holiday colors - Lamar Life Building


19 - Porsche Display - provided by the Magnolia Region Porsche Club of America + new car display from Porsche of Jackson - West at Capitol Street


MERCHANT OPEN HOUSES

1 - Mississippi State Capitol Gift Shop
2 - Two Mississippi Museums Museum Store
4 - Pretty Slayer - Candy Land-themed decor with treats, hair twists, face painting, spiked cocoa and nail stencils
5 - Thimblepress
6 - Offbeat - DJ Daddy Bug, Atlantic Records free gift wrapping, caricatures, by David Jackson and bites by City Box Catering
15 - JXN Welcome Center - Come celebrate Visit Jackson’s 40th anniversary with cookies, hot cocoa, photos with Santa and 10% off merchandise storewide.

DINING/DRINKS

20 - Food Truck Location - Rays To Go - Burgers, Hot Dogs, Loaded Fries, etc | Smokey’s Meals on Wheels | Mr. Turkey Leg
21 - Soulé
- Soft Opening and Coffee Truck
22 - Donut Shop Downtown -
Come by and welcome this downtown eatery, open 4-7 pm
23 - Names & Faces Lounge
- Drinks + 21+ dining
24 - Food Truck Location - Road Dogs Food Truck | Kimyatta’s Express Kitchen
25 - 4th Avenue Lounge
- Drinks + 21+ dining
26 - Food Truck Location - Sweet Tasten | Candied Apples, Nachos, Taco Salad, Hot Dogs and Eddie Wright BBQ
27 - Estelle Southern Table at The Westin Jackson
- Drinks + Dining
28 - Martin's Downtown
- Drinks + Dining
29 - Hal and Mal's
- Drinks + Dining + Live Music
30 - Johnny T's Bistro and Blues
- Drinks + 21+ Dining + Live Music

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

31 - Interior Holiday Decorations, Festival of Trees - The Westin
32 - Ballet Mississippi live performance of The Nutcracker
- Thalia Mara Hall - 7:30 pm (ticketed)

Questions and More Info?

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