2019 Gulf Coast Parade Schedule - Mardi Gras Beads, King Cakes, and Parades
"Experience Carnival Season, a Gulf Coast Tradition"
By Tricia McAlvain
Photo by Trevor Reid
Anticipation of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Mardi Gras traditions run high with thoughts of bright colored beads, scrumptious king cakes, and magnificent costumes and themed parades dancing in One's mind. Each year Carnival season purples, golds, and greens follow right behind the colors of Christmas with elegance as the annual Mardi Gras parade season begins to roll through the streets of the Gulf Coast.
Mardi Gras parades are well organized by the membership of like-minded people referred to as a Krewe. A person must be invited to join a Krewe, with the acceptance of their application being placed before a membership review board. Many Krewes are made of long lines of proud Gulf Coast families creating annual coastal family traditions. Mardi Gras Krewes bring families, friends, and colleagues together in the spirit of Carnival season.
History tells us during French rule, the first ever Mardi Gras parade was held in Mobile, Alabama in the early 1700s. Pre-Katrina New Orleans would see 60 or more parades rolling through their streets. As time progresses our economy changes and so do our Mardi Gras parades. Dancing clubs and walking troupes are popping up in every coastal city adding a new array of traditions and an eclectic element with their music, dance, and visual performance art. Mississippians truly embrace the Mardi Gras traditions of their own with long-running annual Mardi Gras parades in each Gulf Coast city.
Each Krewe holds true to their own unique traditions while keeping the common thread of crowning a new King or Queen each year. These individuals are picked from the respective Krewe membership. Floats are designed around the Krewes particular theme for the year and often reflect current topics and cultural events. Members of each Krewe have the honor of riding the floats and they will toss beads and trinkets to the crowd over the course of the Mardi Gras parade route. The trinkets usually bear the Krewes emblem along with the theme and date.
2019 Gulf Coast Mardi Gras Parade Schedule
Saturday, February 9
Krewe of the Pearl Mardi Gras Parade
Goodyear Blvd, Main St, W Canal St, Kirkwood St, Goodyear Blvd
Picayune, 2 pm
Saturday, February 16
Annual Ocean Springs Elks Mardi Gras Parade
Front Beach, Porter Ave, Washington Ave, Government St, and Holcomb Blvd
Ocean Springs, 1 pm facebook.com/events/256716421523725
Annual Krewe of Legacy Mardi Gras Parade
JP Ladner Rd, Edwin Ladner Rd, Vidalia Rd
Pass Christian, 1 pm facebook.com/123LEGACY
Annual Pass Christian Carnival Association Mardi Gras Parade
JP Ladner Rd, Edwin Ladner Rd, Vidalia Rd
Pass Christian, 1pm
Second Liners Mardi Gras Club Parade
Nichols Dr, Division St, Caillavet St to Esters Blvd (end at Doris C Busch Park)
Biloxi, 1pm
Annual Krewe Unique Mardi Gras Parade
Front Beach, Porter Ave, Washington Ave, Government St, and Holcomb Blvd
Ocean Springs, 2 pm
Sunday, February 17
Annual Lizana Mardi Gras Parade
Lizana School Rd, Cable Bridge Rd, Northrop Cuevas Rd, back to Lizana School Rd
Gulfport, 1 pm
Saturday, February 23
Annual Biloxi Children’s Mardi Gras Walking Parade
Downtown Biloxi, Rue Magnolia District
Biloxi, 10a, biloxi.ms.us
Annual Krewe of Little Rascals Children Mardi Gras Parade
Delmas Ave, Canty St, Watts Ave, and Magnolia St
Pascagoula, 1 pm, mainstreetpascagoula.com
Annual Mystic Krewe of Pine Island Mardi Gras Parade
John's Bayou Rd
Vancleave, 1:30pm
Annual Carnival Association of Long Beach Mardi Gras Parade
Cleveland Ave, 1st St, Jeff Davis, E Railroad, Cleveland Ave
Long Beach, 6 pm longbeachcarnival.com
Annual Gautier Men's Club Mardi Gras Parade
Dolphin Rd, Gautier-Vancleave Rd, Highway 90, Dolphin Dr
Gautier, 7 pm gautiernightparade.com
Sunday, February 24
Annual Krewe of Nereids Mardi Gras Parade
Begins at Auderer Blvd & Hwy 90 to Drinkwater Rd
Waveland, 12 pm thekreweofnereids.com
Krewe of Barkloxi-Annual Bow Wow PAW-RADE
Spectators free, $10 pre-registration fee per pet, $15 registration day of the event.
Biloxi Town Green, 710 Beach Blvd
Biloxi, 1 pm facebook.com/MyHSSM
Friday, March 1
Ocean Springs Carnival Association Night Mardi Gras Parade
Front Beach, Porter Ave, Washington Ave, Government St, Holcomb Blvd
Ocean Springs, 7 pm osnightparade.com
Saturday, March 2
Annual Krewe of Diamondhead Mardi Gras Parade
Gex Dr, Kalani Dr, Diamondhead Dr, Golf Club Dr
Diamondhead, 12 pm
Annual Jackson County Carnival Association Mardi Gras Parade
Ingalls Ave, Market St, Jackson Ave, Pascagoula St
Pascagoula, 1 pm
Annual Krewe of Gemini Mardi Gras Day Parade
19th St, Hwy 49, 14th St, 13th St, 24th Ave, 14th St, 21st Ave, 14th St, 24th Ave, 19th St
Gulfport, 2 pm
Annual Krewe of Neptune Night Mardi Gras Parade
Main St, Hwy 90, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Howard Ave, Caillavet St
Biloxi, 5:30pm kreweofneptune.org
Annual Krewe of Salacia Parade
Main St, Hwy 90, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Howard Ave, Caillavet St
Biloxi, 6:30pm facebook.com/KreweofSalacia
Sunday, March 3
Annual St. Paul Mardi Gras Parade
Second St, St Louis St, Henderson Ave, Scenic Drive, Davis Ave
Pass Christian, 12:30am stpaulcarnival.com
Annual D'Iberville/St Martin North Bay Area Mardi Gras Parade
Lemoyne Blvd, Central Ave, Rodriguez St, Automall Parkway
D'Iberville , 1:30pm
Monday, March 4, Lundi Gras
Annual Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse Mardi Gras Parade
Bookter St, Necaise Ave, Main St, Demontluzin Ave, Bay St Louis, Bookter St
Bay St Louis, 5 pm facebook.com/mystickreweoftheseahorse
Tuesday, March 5, Mardi Gras
Annual Gulf Coast Carnival Association Mardi Gras Parade
Main St, Hwy 90, Lameuse St, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Reynoir St, Hwy 90, Porter Ave, Howard Ave
Biloxi, 1 pm gulfcoastcarnivalassociation.com
Annual Krewe of Diamonds Mardi Gras Parade
Bookter & Necaise Ave, Main St, N Beach Blvd, Union St, Blaize Ave, Sycamore St, Bookter St
Bay St Louis, 1 pm
Krewe of Real People the Next Generation Mardi Gras Parade
Bookter & Necaise Ave, Main St, N Beach Blvd, Union St, Blaize Ave, Sycamore St, Bookter St
Bay St Louis, 1 pm
Annual Krewe of Gemini Mardi Gras Night Parade
19th St, Hwy 49, 14th St, 13th St, 24th Ave, 14th St, 21st Ave, 14th St, 24th Ave, 19th St
Gulfport, 5:30 pm
By Tricia McAlvain
