There’s a Mardi Gras parade in downtown Biloxi Saturday morning – and it’s rolling on paved streets, some of them stylishly paved, too.
While some have worried about pending parades and downtown road construction, the Biloxi Children’s Mardi Gras Walking Parade, which begins Saturday at 10 a.m. at Howard Avenue and I-110, will be one of the first public events to take full advantage of the mayor’s parquet dance floor, that area of Howard between Reynoir and Lameuse, which will be open for the occasion.
You will see dozens of Carnival-costumed youngters walking, biking, skating and in some cases being pushed or pulled down the route, which ends at the Biloxi City Hall, where organizers will present prizes to those whose theme amplifies this year’s Gulf Coast Carnival theme, “It’s All on the Line.” No motorized vehicles are allowed in the parade.
Said Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich: “This is always a great event and besides being fun to watch, it’s instilling in our young people an appreciation for the significance of Carnival and the traditions of our community.”
Organizers of the parade, which will have about 200 participants, are the city, Gulf Coast Carnival and the Mardi Gras Museum.
“This is how it all started,” said longtime educator and civic leader Susan Hunt, whose family has been a part of Mardi Gras for generations. “I remember watching the parade travel down Howard Avenue with my mom and dad. It is very sentimental to me. It is awesome.”
And the forecast for Saturday? The forecast calls for rain after noon. The children’s parade, unlike the March 5 Gulf Coast Carnival parade, is a no-rain event. Any decision to cancel the parade would be made no later than Saturday morning and would be transmitted via the city’s B-Alert text service. Sign up now by texting BILOXI to 888777.
Photo gallery: Images from a past Children’s parade
See the parade route
See the Mardi Gras events lineup
Tickets on sale for high school, college games at MGM
Seven high school and college games have been set to be played at MGM Park in March and the box office is now selling tickets for each of the games.
The slate of games begins with the annual Biloxi High versus D’Iberville High game on Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $8, and gates will open at 6 p.m.
The Battle at the Beach also returns to MGM Park on Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16. Friday will feature a pair of games, one at 5 p.m. between George County High (Lucedale) and Westmoore High (Oklahoma City) and the other at 7:30 p.m. between Biloxi High and Petal High. General admission tickets are $8, and one ticket will allow entry for both games.
Then, on Saturday, March 16, three games will be played. The first game between Warren Central (Vicksburg) and Gulfport High starts at 10 a.m. Game two matches Oak Grove High (Hattiesburg) against Ocean Springs High and is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. The Battle at the Beach concludes with St. Martin High taking on West Harrison High at 3 p.m. General admission tickets are $8 and allow entry to all three games.
The schedule of games in March at MGM Park concludes on Wednesday, March 20 as William Carey University takes on Mississippi College at 6:35 p.m. Students and faculty from both colleges can purchase $8 general admission tickets with a valid ID, while general admission tickets for the public are $10. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch.
Tickets for all seven games can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, over the phone at 1-800-745-3000 or at the MGM Park Box Office, located at 105 Caillavet St., Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Shuck Nation memberships and group outings for the 2019 Biloxi Shuckers season are also now on sale.
The Biloxi Shuckers will open their fifth season at MGM Park on April 4 at 6:35 p.m. against the Birmingham Barons. Biloxi will host the 2019 Southern League All-Star Festivities, with a Home Run Derby on June 17 and the All-Star Game at 6:35 p.m. on June 18 at MGM Park.
See the Biloxi Shuckers website
City Desk: The latest on Shuck Nation
News & notes: Weekend preview, weather, outstanding citizen
Weekend preview: The Biloxi Boat show takes place at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi Parks & Recreation Department hosts its annual Special Needs Mardi Gras Ball & Dance, Parliament featuring George Clinton will be at the Beau Rivage, and the 3rd Annual Krewe of Barkloxi Bow Wow Pawrade takes place at the Biloxi Town Green. To see the Biloxi Community Calendar, click here. To see a complete weekend line up, click here.
Weather update: To see the weekend weather forecast, click here.
Outstanding citizen: Lee Ann Dubaz was recognized as Biloxi’s Outstanding Citizen during a Biloxi Lions Club luncheon on Wednesday at the Biloxi Yacht Club where Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich presented Dubaz with a proclamation. To see images of the luncheon, courtesy of the Biloxi Lions Club, click here. To see the proclamation, click here.
