Mayor A.J. Holloway is asking motorists to expect busy roadways and use caution this Memorial Day weekend, as the city and others prepare for the traditional start of the summer season.
Traffic is expected to be especially heavy with the increase in the popularity of a number of Memorial Day events, including the Friday night fireworks, which kick off tomorrow night on Casino Row; and the All-Harley Memorial Day Blowout, which kicks off at noon Friday at the Gulfport Dragway off Canal Road.
“We’re asking for our local motorists to be especially careful this weekend,” Holloway said. “We’re asking them to do the things they’re always supposed to do – drive defensively, obey the speed limit, and, of course, wear your seatbelt.”
A quick preview of the weekend’s events:
City sponsors Memorial Day program at Biloxi National Cemetery
More than 500 volunteers are expected to show up at the Biloxi National Cemetery Saturday morning at 9 to help plant about 14,000 U.S. flags at the graves of those buried in the west Biloxi cemetery.
And the process, says cemetery director Amanda Rhodes, is expected to take no longer than 20 minutes.
“Everybody grabs the flags and they just go,” Rhodes said. “We have church groups, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, civic organizations, family members and VA employees. The year before last, it took 18 minutes; last year, it was 20 minutes; and this year, I’m looking for 15 minutes.”
The annual planting of the flags is in preparation for a Memorial Day program on Monday morning.
The City of Biloxi is sponsoring this year’s program, and Mayor A.J. Holloway has chosen Air Force retired Lt. Gen. Clark Griffith to serve as guest speaker for the program, which begins at 9:30 a.m. Monday and is expected to run no longer than 30 minutes.
To learn more about Griffith’s career and to see the program for Monday morning, click here.
Casino Row fireworks begin Friday
The Casino Row fireworks are back again this year – and they’re back to Friday nights.
The free fireworks show kicks off its summertime run from Casino Row Friday at 9 p.m., with good viewing locations from the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor eastward to Casino Row. The shows, which will be presented weekly through Labor Day weekend, are sponsored by the Isle of Capri, Casino Magic and Grand Casino, all on Casino Row.
Motorists viewing the fireworks from the beach are asked to park in legally marked bays only.
To learn more about the fireworks show, click here.
All-Harley blowout kicks off Friday at noon
Motorists in Biloxi and along the Gulf Coast will be sharing the roadway will thousands of motorcyclists in town for this weekend’s All-Harley Memorial Day Blowout at the Gulfport Dragway off Canal Road.
The blowout, now in its 22nd year, carries a $50 entry fee, which entitles visitors to view drag races and browse the booths of dozens of vendors from across the country.
For more on the event, click here.
