A crowd of Jones County residents encircled the sizable Christmas tree erected in the middle of downtown Laurel, an area popularized by its depictions in HGTV series “Home Town,” as the sun was setting on Friday, Dec. 5. Oos and Ahhs filled the cool, pre-winter air once the fairy lights illuminated the tree—supplied through Talson Farms—and other holiday decorations that organizers installed for the 2025 edition of the Cookie Stroll. 

Cadence Bank sponsors the annual community event every year through a partnership with Laurel Main Street. During the annual celebration, local businesses located within those handful of city blocks stay open late in the evening, offering snacks and activities for residents.

Join the many Mississippians who are embracing the festive spirit this week by browsing the Mississippi Free Press’ photo gallery of this year’s Cookie Stroll.

An exterior view of a downtown business on the corner with lit windows filled with a Christmas display
Downtown Laurel is partly known for its rustic brick buildings and roadways. Many businesses that line the streets decorated their storefronts for the holiday season ahead of the Dec. 5, 2025, Cookie Stroll. Photo by Amy Schumann, Mississippi Free Press
A person stands behind the counter at a sweet shop
The Knight Butcher, under the banner of “Knight Sugar,” offered special holiday editions of fudge including Christmas cookie fudge, Christmas M&M fudge, and the new Dubai chocolate fudge bites. Chad (pictured) and Terri Knight own the downtown staple, known for serving hot lunch during the day in addition to selling cuts of meat and house-made jerky. Photo by Amy Schumann, Mississippi Free Press
Two people stand outside at night in front of a brightly lit Christmas tree
Two Laurel, Miss., residents stand in front of the Christmas tree that Talson Farms, owned by local couple Brittany and Aaron Anderson, supplied for this year’s Cookie Stroll. Photo by Amy Schumann, Mississippi Free Press
Two people stand together inside a retail shop filled with Christmas items
Beth (left) and Mike Smith (right) own Office Products Center & Gifts in downtown Laurel, an authorized dealer of “Old World Christmas” ornaments. Photo by Amy Schumann, Mississippi Free Press
People sit at a table inside a business and paint crafts
Local artist and photographer David W. Smith watched over families who hand-painted ornaments as one of the festivities offered during the 2025 Cadence Bank Cookie Stroll on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Amy Schumann, Mississippi Free Press
A person stands behind the counter at a sweet shop
Shug’s is a downtown Laurel sweets shop that sells fully safe-to-eat cookie dough by the cupful, along with candies and other treats. Employee Ella Thomas (pictured) manned the counter on the night of the 2025 Cookie Stroll. Photo by Amy Schumann, Mississippi Free Press
A retail shop has a fully decorated Christmas tree
Inside men’s clothing store Guild and Gentry, owners Cory and Caroline Burks have a fully decorated Christmas tree, which stands amid mannequins and other items. Photo by Amy Schumann, Mississippi Free Press
A downtown business is lit with Christas displays as people stand around outside it at night
During the Cadence Bank Cookie Stroll held in downtown Laurel on Dec. 5, 2025, locals traversed the decorated streets, patronizing the small businesses that participated in the holiday-themed event. Photo by Amy Schumann, Mississippi Free Press
A woman stands inside beside a shop filled with Christmas items
Kelly Lambert (pictured) co-owns The Cotton Boll, a boutique and furniture shoppe in downtown Laurel that stayed open late on the evening of Dec. 5, 2025, as part of the Cadence Bank Cookie Stroll. Photo by Amy Schumann, Mississippi Free Press
A family poses together outside of a holiday window display
The Chiboterica family (pictured) was one of many who attended the Cookie Stroll. Anatolie and Ala Chiboterica moved to the United States more than a decade ago and have since become involved in church-related and other community-service programs in the Jones County area. Photo by Amy Schumann, Mississippi Free Press
People stand inside beside life size holiday nutcrackers
Community Bank hosted a cookie-decoration station during the 2025 Cookie Stroll, held on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Amy Schumann, Mississippi Free Press

Amy Schumann is a mother of three and grandmother of three from Laurel, Mississippi. Her love for photography arose from a desire to preserve those special moments in life, particularly involving her family, that come and go so swiftly. She advises others to savor life and to take photos that can become lasting memories.