The Second Liners parade rolled through downtown Biloxi today in a route that circled dozens of Neptune floats readying for the carnival crew’s 5:30 parade.
“It was perfect weather for the parade,” Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich said. “The Second Liners group has come a long way and is celebrating 25 years this year. The members certainly had a great turnout today. It’s setting the stage for another 25 great years.”
The parade of bands, vehicles and floats began on Division Street and traveled south of Reynoir turning onto MLK before ending at Busch Park on Esters Boulevard.
Biloxi Police estimate that the parade of more than three dozen units attracted a crowd of about 5,000 along the route.
At Reynoir and Main, the parade passed by dozens of Neptune floats, where crewmembers were stocking beads and other throws. The floats arrived at 8:30 this morning.
Esters Boulevard remains closed to traffic, except for CTA buses, and police will begin closing streets along the Neptune parade route and hour or so before the parade. U.S. 90 will be reduced to two-lane traffic between Bellman and G.E. Ohr streets at 4:20 p.m. and the Neptune route will close to traffic at 5 p.m.
By the way, Interstate 110, where southbound lanes are closed at Division for Gulf Coast Carnival parades, remains open during the Neptune parade.
Mardi Gras info: For Carnival and traffic advisories through the city’s free text messaging service, text BILOXI to 888777.
Gallery: See photos from Second Liners parade
See the Neptune route
