Biloxi and the Gulf Coast will officially turn the calendar from Christmas to Carnival on Saturday night with the celebration of Twelfth Night, complete with a parade and outdoor celebration.
The gathering begins at 5 p.m. inside the Biloxi Visitors Center, 1050 Beach Blvd. Gulf Coast Carnival Association’s 2018 Royal Court will walk from the center to the Biloxi Lighthouse and extinguish the Christmas lights on the city’d signature landmark. Then at 6:15 p.m., the royal court will board a trio of Mardi Gras floats and parade along U.S. 90 to Biloxi City Hall, 140 Lameuse St. There, a switch will be flipped and the stately white marble facade and tall ionic columns of the three-story building will be swathed im the colors of Carnival: purple, green and gold.
The occasion also serves as a reminder of the religious significance of Carnival, often lost on the tens of thousands of revelers at Mardi Gras parades. Twelfth Night, the 12th day from Christmas, is the night before the Epiphany, the day when the three wise men visited the infant Jesus, foretelling the revelation of God the Son being born as a human.
Visitors to the free affair will find seafood gumbo, King cake and other fare being served on the green space across from the Biloxi City Hall until 8 p.m.
Video: See a preview of the Twelfth Night
See photos from Twelfth Night, 2018
Weekend forecast: Chilly, but no rain
Boil water notice issued for Woolmarket, Eagle Point areas
A brief interruption of water service in Woolmarket and Eagle Point has prompted the city to issue a boil-water notice for about 1,500 water customers in that area.
Necaise Brothers Contracting is notifying residents and businesses of the notice. State-mandated boil water notices are a precaution usually prompted by a loss in water pressure. The notices are issued because sediment in a water line can be dislodged once pressure is restored.
The boil water notice is until further notice. They are lifted after two consecutive days of successful samples. Necaise will notify residents and businesses.
Map: See the impacted area
News & notes: Weekly report, podcast, weekend preview, swimming
The week that was: Last week, the Fire Department answered 142 calls for service, including 103 medical emergencies and one fires; the Police Department handled 2,009 calls for service; the Community Development Department issued 14 building permits with a construction valuation of $80,000; and the Engineering Department continued to progress on projects throughout the city. To see the reports covering last week, click here.
City Desk: Community Development Director Jerry Creel guests on this week’s installment of the City Desk podcast to talk about the development and growth in Biloxi. Hot topics: Sales tax revenue and short-term rentals. To listen, click here.
Weekend preview: Southern State Indie Film Fest will be at the Palace Casino, Morris Day & The Time will perform at the IP Casino, and the Mississippi Coast Coliseum will have ice skating. To see the Biloxi Community Calendar, click here. To see a complete weekend lineup, click here.
Swimming hours: Beginning on Saturday, the Biloxi Natatorium will close on Saturdays at 4 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. To see more about the Biloxi Natatorium, click here.
