Mayor A.J. Holloway said he expects as many as 75,000 paradegoers to attend Biloxi’s Mardi Gras parade, which features more than 100 units and will roll through downtown Biloxi beginning at 1 p.m.
“Prior to Katrina, we saw as many as 100,000 people in downtown Biloxi for our three parades,” Holloway said. “Last year, the one parade was staged before 15,000 to 20,000 people, and, this year, as more and more things are returning and weather permitting, we expect to see as many as 50,000 to 75,000 people enjoy Fat Tuesday in Biloxi.”
The National Weather Service is forecasting a high of 69, with an overcast sky and a 30 percent chance of rain.
Paradegoers were already beginning to gather along the route this morning, as Public Works crews began erecting barricades at key locations along the afternoon parade’s path.
Biloxi police officers, who will be joined by officers from neighboring jurisdictions, plan to close I-110 to southbound traffic at Division Street and limit U.S. 90 in downtown Biloxi to two lanes of traffic for most of the day.
Gulf Coast Carnival Association will account for the lion’s share of the entries in this afternoon’s parade, which will wrap up with floats representing the Krewe of Neptune, which did not parade last year.
To see Mardi Gras safety tips, click here.
To see the parade route for today, click here.
For background on the parade, click here.
News and notes
Visitors Center rendering: Mayor A.J. Holloway unveiled for City Council members on Monday a rendering of the proposed Visitors Center that would be situated north of the Biloxi Lighthouse. To see the rendering, which includes a statue of the French explorer d’Iberville, click here.
