Hattiesburg, Mississippi has a surprisingly wide mix of outdoors, arts, food, and quirky local spots, so you can easily fill a weekend or more.

Classic “must‑do” highlights

  • Walk the Hattiesburg Public Art Trail to see dozens of murals and sculptures all over town, part of the city’s push to become the “City of 100 Murals.”
  • Stroll the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum and nearby Pocket Alley , a tiny downtown corridor filled with miniature scenes, murals, and rotating odd little exhibits.
  • Visit the Hattiesburg Zoo , which has exhibits themed around multiple continents plus extras like a splash pad, ropes course, and a small train ride that loops the zoo.
  • Explore the University of Southern Mississippi campus, including the All‑American Rose Garden , which is a peaceful place for a walk and photos.

Outdoors and nature time

  • Spend a day at Paul B. Johnson State Park , where you can picnic by the lake, kayak, fish, or just hang out under the pines.
  • Try the official Hattiesburg GeoTour , a geocaching trail with more than 40 hidden caches around the area, which turns sightseeing into a scavenger hunt.
  • Look up local runs like the Hattiesburg Half Marathon , Farm to Fork Ride or Run , or Dog Days 5K if you’re in town during race season.

Arts, history, and culture

  • Catch a show at the historic Hattiesburg Saenger Theater , an Art Deco venue downtown that hosts everything from ballets and films to magic shows and touring performances.
  • Visit the Sarah Gillespie Museum of Art for a collection focused on Mississippi artists and regional works.
  • Drive out to Camp Shelby to tour the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum , which covers military history with artifacts, exhibits, and memorials.

Quirky local favorites and “hidden gem” stops

  • Browse The Lucky Rabbit , a big, curated vintage/antique market with rotating themed displays that locals love to show off to visitors.
  • Wander Pocket Alley behind the Saenger Theatre to hunt for tiny Lego figures, 3D floor art, and other playful little details tucked into the brickwork.
  • Check out T‑Bones Records & CafĂ© for vinyl, coffee, and a look at the “Birthplace of Rock ’n’ Roll” mural on the side of the building.
  • If you like smashing out stress, book a session at Category Five Smash Room to don safety gear and break stuff in a controlled environment.

Food, drink, and local flavor

  • Work your way through the Hatties[BURGER] Trail , a loose collection of burger spots around town created as a fun way to taste local favorites.
  • Sip wine at The Little Wine Shoppe or grab a health‑forward meal at Birdhouse CafĂ© if you want something lighter.
  • Time your visit with the Downtown Crawfish Jam for live music and piles of boiled crawfish, or the Hattiesburg Craft Beer Festival to sample regional brews.
  • Drop by Southern Prohibition Brewing (often called “SoPro”) in downtown for craft beer and a relaxed taproom vibe.

Festivals, events, and when to visit

  • Plan around big events like Mardi Gras celebrations, HubFest (a major downtown festival with food, artists, and music), and FestivalSouth , a multi‑week arts festival with music, theater, and dance.
  • On “First Saturday” downtown, you can often find the Lucky Rabbit ’s outdoor market plus extra pop‑up vendors and activities.
  • For what’s happening this week or this weekend, check local calendars (like downtown event listings or ticketing platforms) for up‑to‑date shows, markets, and pop‑ups.

Sample one‑day itinerary

  • Morning: Coffee and browsing at T‑Bones Records & CafĂ©, then walk part of the Public Art Trail downtown and explore the Pocket Museum.
  • Midday: Head to the Hattiesburg Zoo or Paul B. Johnson State Park depending on whether you want animals or lakeside downtime.
  • Late afternoon: Check out The Lucky Rabbit and nearby murals; if it’s First Saturday, wander the outdoor market.
  • Evening: Dinner on the Hatties[BURGER] Trail or oysters at Keg and Barrel West , then finish with a drink at Southern Prohibition Brewing or a show at the Saenger Theater if anything’s on.
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Type of activity Top picks in Hattiesburg
Street art & quirks Hattiesburg Public Art Trail, Pocket Museum & Pocket Alley, “Birthplace of Rock ’n’ Roll” mural at T‑Bones
Outdoors & nature Paul B. Johnson State Park, All‑American Rose Garden, Hattiesburg GeoTour
Family‑friendly Hattiesburg Zoo (train, splash pad, ropes course), Pocket Museum, races and fun runs
Arts & history Saenger Theater, Sarah Gillespie Museum of Art, Mississippi Armed Forces Museum
Food & drink Hatties[BURGER] Trail, Birdhouse Café, The Little Wine Shoppe, Southern Prohibition Brewing, Keg and Barrel West
Events & festivals Mardi Gras events, HubFest, FestivalSouth, Downtown Crawfish Jam, Craft Beer Festival
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.