On Monday, youngsters dressed in themed costumes and accompanied by decorated floats will get a second chance to celebrate Mardi Gras, minus the parade, during the Biloxi Family Mardi Gras Celebration.
The event, being held on Lundi Gras, the Monday before Mardi Gras, will take place under the I-110 overpass at the corner of Howard Avenue and Hopkins Boulevard from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for children ages 12 and younger.
This event came about after organizers decided to cancel the Children’s Mardi Gras Walking Parade which was set for last weekend.
“After being forced to cancel the parade on Saturday because of weather, we recognized that a lot of people had put in time and money creating costumes and floats,” said Biloxi Historical Administrator Bill Raymond. “We wanted to give them an opportunity to show off their creativity.”
The annual parade is organized by the City of Biloxi, the Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum, and the Gulf Coast Carnival Association.
“Our mission with the parade is to give families an opportunity to be true participants in Mardi Gras,” said Raymond. “So this event will still allow them to see Mardi Gras from a different perspective and learn more about the history and traditions.”
The Biloxi Family Mardi Gras Celebration is a free event, open to ages 12 and younger and their families, and will include costume and float contests, arts and crafts activities, and refreshments. Registration for the contests will begin on-site at 11 a.m.
Those entering the contests should adhere to the “It’s All in Black or White” theme which celebrates the love of reading and the fascinating characters and faraway places a child can discover. No motorized vehicles will be allowed to participate in the contest.
See the event flyer
See a list of Mardi Gras events
News & notes: Weekly report, B-Alert, and more Mardi Gras event
The week that was: Weekly reports from the departments of Fire, Community Development, and Engineering are now online for your review. To see the reports from last week and an archive of weekly reports, click here.
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Second Liners Mardi Gras Club Parade: The parade takes place on Saturday, Feb. 18, beginning at noon and travels from Division Street at Nichols Drive and ends at Doris C. Busch Park, 645 Esters Blvd. See the map
Krewe of Neptune Night Mardi Gras Parade: The night parade takes place Saturday, Feb. 18, beginning at 5:30 p.m., in Downtown. The parade begins on Main Street and travels south to U.S. 90, west along Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to Howard Avenue, north to Caillavet Street, and ends at Bayview Avenue. See the map.
Mardi Gras traffic plan: The city employs a number of traffic plans for special events, including Mardi Gras. The plan helps to ensure traffic does not impede response times for emergency vehicles. To see the Mardi Gras traffic plan, click here.
