These 6 Mississippi Courthouse Squares Light Up For The Holidays And Won’t Cost Your Family A Dime

Some of the best December nights start with nothing more than a warm coat and a parking spot near the courthouse. Across Mississippi, small towns string their old squares with lights, and anyone can walk right in without paying a cent.

For families watching their budgets, that kind of free magic matters a lot. Here are seven squares where the glow is open to everyone, from toddlers in strollers to grandparents holding hands.

1. Madison County Courthouse

Stand on the courthouse steps in Canton after sunset and the whole square seems to hum. The Madison County Courthouse sits at the heart of a town that calls itself the City of Lights, and during the holidays it earns that nickname with more than 200,000 bulbs spread across the square.

The building itself deserves a long look. Built by Masons, it is a handsome, well-kept landmark that anchors this county-seat town of about 13,000 people.

In December, the lawn around it fills with holiday-themed light displays and kids’ rides, turning a place of daily business into a family playground.

Here is a fun detail: the Canton Christmas Festival was named Best Free Adventure in the 2025 Best of Travel Awards from Mississippi Magazine. In 2025, the festival ran November 28-30 and December 5-23, so plan your visit around those evenings.

Walking the grounds costs nothing, and the paths are easy for little legs. Start at the courthouse, circle outward, and let the kids pick which glowing display to see next.

Weekday office hours run 8 AM to 5 PM, but the real show begins after dark, when the courthouse becomes the brightest thing in town.

2. The Lafayette County Courthouse, Oxford, MS

Every square needs a centerpiece, and in Oxford it is the Lafayette County Courthouse at 142 Courthouse Square. When the holiday lights go up, the white courthouse becomes the glowing anchor that every street and storefront seems to point toward.

So why give it its own spot when the square already made the list? Simple.

The courthouse grounds are a destination in their own right, with perimeter sidewalks that let you circle the building and see it lit from every side. The view from the lawn looking out at the decorated shops is just as lovely as the view looking in.

Practical perks help families too. Free street parking sits nearby, and the building has restrooms available during weekday hours, Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.

That matters when you are traveling with small children who always need a break at the worst moment.

Try visiting right at dusk. You get a few minutes of soft blue sky behind the lit courthouse, which makes for great family photos.

Then stay until full dark, when the lights take over completely. Taking it all in costs nothing, and the memory of that glowing courthouse tends to stick around long after New Year’s.

3. The Canton Square, Canton, MS

Kids, meet the 32-foot Caterpillar. It is not a bug but a glowing tunnel of lights you can walk straight through, and it is just one of the surprises waiting on The Canton Square at 100 N Union St.

While the courthouse earns attention for its architecture, the square around it is where the playful action happens. The Canton Christmas Festival fills this 19th-century main-street square with interactive walk-through attractions.

Think an 18-foot Gift Box, Frosty’s Igloo, Santa’s Workshop, and a 16-foot Snowman you can step inside. Towering over it all is a three-story Christmas tree.

The square is known as good for kids, and it is wheelchair accessible too. Open public sidewalks connect each display, so families with strollers or mobility needs can move around comfortably.

That kind of thoughtful layout makes the experience welcoming for everyone in the group.

Canton’s Victorian-style lighting blankets both the trees and the historic buildings, so even the spaces between attractions feel festive. A smart plan is to let each child choose one walk-through to visit twice.

With free entry, nobody has to worry about tickets adding up. Questions about the festival can go to the listed phone number, 601-651-4394, before you make the drive.

4. Marion County Courthouse, Columbia, MS

Down in south Mississippi, where winter nights stay mild, Columbia makes a strong case for an evening walk. The Marion County Courthouse, at 250 Broad St, serves as the glowing centerpiece of the town’s downtown holiday displays.

Columbia is small, with roughly 6,000 residents, yet its traditional Main Street district takes the season seriously. Seasonal decorations spread out from the courthouse, so the building acts like a starting point for a longer wander.

Begin at the lit courthouse, then follow the decorations along the nearby streets.

Families with wheelchairs or strollers will appreciate the accessible perimeter walkways around this civic square. Smooth paths make it easier to keep everyone together, and the open layout means you can spot the next bright display from where you stand.

No tickets, no gates, no fees.

Here is a helpful tip for timing. The courthouse keeps weekday hours from 9 AM to 5 PM, slightly later than some others on this list, and restrooms are available during that window.

If you arrive late in the afternoon, you can take a quick break inside before the sun goes down. Then step back outside and watch the downtown slowly come alive as the lights switch on around you.

5. DeSoto County Courthouse, Hernando, MS

Bright trees, a stately courthouse, and a ring of small local shops make Hernando feel like a postcard come to life each winter. The DeSoto County Courthouse stands in the center of the town’s historic square, and every holiday season both the building and the trees around it shine with bright displays.

What sets this stop apart is the setting. Hernando has kept its courthouse lawn preserved, and small businesses line the edges of the square.

That means your stroll comes with plenty of cheerful window views, even if you do not plan to buy a thing.

Families can walk the outdoor civic grounds free of charge, circling the lawn as many times as they like. The lit trees create a sort of glowing frame around the courthouse, which makes it a favorite spot for holiday photos.

Try a picture from each corner of the square to see how the view changes.

During the day, the courthouse at 2535 Hwy 51 S keeps hours Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM, and restrooms are available inside. Evening is the time to come for lights, though.

End your night here, and you will have wrapped up a holiday tour that cost your family absolutely nothing.

6. Courthouse Square

Picture a holiday movie set, then add real brick sidewalks and storefronts that have stood for generations. Oxford’s Courthouse Square has that cozy, Hallmark-style feel every December, thanks to fresh greenery and twinkling lights draped across the historic buildings.

The season kicks off with the Lighting of the Square, a tradition that dates back to the 1960s. That means some grandparents who now bring their grandkids once watched the switch flip as children themselves.

It is a rare kind of family continuity.

Oxford calls its holiday season Holly Jolly Holidays, and one highlight is the Walk of Lights. These custom displays celebrate the town’s own history, so a stroll doubles as a little lesson about the place you are standing in.

Kids who usually groan at history may not even notice they are learning.

Because the square is a public outdoor space, families can wander the sidewalks and admire every window without paying anything. Canopy displays stretch over the storefronts, and the loop around the square is short enough for younger walkers.

Bring a thermos of cocoa from home, take a slow lap, and then take another. The lights look different from every corner.