Bay Saint Louis, MS – 100 Men Hall is hosting its 5th Annual Matzo Ball on Sunday, December 21, 2024 - 6:30-8:30pm. This is a timeless celebration of miracles and light! There will be food, shopping, and fabulous music by Meryl Zimmerman & the Miracles and lots, and lots, and even lots more menorahs to light! Bring the kids! Bring yourself! Bring a date! AND IT'S FREE!

This year’s Matzo Ball will take place on the eighth night, which is also the longest night of the year, winter solstice. To honor the ritual of bringing light into darkness, the Hall has joined with The Arts and its annual Winter Solstice Lantern Parade to create a truly magical glowing evening that will light up your world!

The evening kicks off at 5:30 PM at The Arts (405 Blaize Ave.), where the crowd will gather with glowing lanterns—handmade or store-bought—and hear a welcome from founding artists Emma Connolly and Kerr Grabowski. At 6:00 PM, the parade steps off for a 0.7-mile journey through downtown, filling the streets with color, light, and cheer. Spectators can watch along the route or meet the parade at the Depot or at 100 Men Hall.

The route: Blaize Ave. → left on Toulme → left on Easterbrook → left on Agness → right on Marty → 100 Men Hall (303 Union St.).

At 6:30 PM, the glowing parade will arrive at 100 Men Hall just in time to light the tiki torch menorah for the 8th night of Hanukkah. Then, the celebration moves indoors with a menorah lighting, last-minute holiday shopping, complimentary latkes from Dragonfly and jelly donuts from Grammy’s, a cash/credit bar, and music that will keep your spirits soaring all night long.

Meryl Zimmerman & the Miracles soulful and cheerful holiday songs are an inspiration to the season. Meryl has performed at venues across New Orleans including Snug Harbor, as well as Tipitina’s, The Spotted Cat, Three Muses, and Buffa’s, to name a few. She has performed at the French Quarter Festival and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. She has self-released two consecutive albums, Crystalline (2020) and A Very Meryl Christmas (2021). “… the more familiar ideas are dressed up in uncommon arrangements that take them into interesting places. Her bossa nova version of “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” is compelling…” writes music journalist Alex Rawls on his “Twelve Songs of Christmas” podcast. And her parents come all the way every year to join in!

Event Highlights

What: The Matzo Ball and Solstice Parade

When: Sunday, December 21, 2024

1. 5:30 pm – Gather at The Arts, words from Grand Marshals

2. 6:00 pm – Lantern Parade through Bay St. Louis

3. 6:30 pm – Menorah lighting at 100 Men Hall

4. 7:00 pm – Live music, food, drinks, shopping, celebration

Where: From The Arts (405 Blaize Ave.) to 100 Men Hall (303 Union St.)

Who: Everyone is welcome! Bring a lantern, wear your festive best, and let’s get lit!

The historical 100 Men Hall, a famed stop on the Chitlin' Circuit, a Must See Venue by Rolling Stone Magazine, winner of the 2024 MS Governor’s Award for Excellence for Arts in the Community, a rare site on the MS Blues Trail, is maintained and preserved under a 501c3 nonprofit organization (Hundred Members Debating Benevolent Association, est. 1894). The Hall is supported by its membership organization 100 WOMEN DBA, as well as from the generosity of sponsors and donors. The 100 Men Hall is the only endowed African American landmark in Mississippi. Additional information about the venue’s history and other activities can be found on https://100menhall.com or by emailing 100menhall@gmail.com.

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