City crews continue to prepare for the upcoming Mardi Gras festivities happening this weekend, all leading up to the big day, Fat Tuesday.
The most-telling signs of approaching parades, of course, are the barricades along downtown streets. This week, Public Works crews installed 2,200 barricades, 12,000 feet of rope and 500 rope poles, 300 traffic cones, 75 No Parking signs and 64 portolets.
Biloxi Police, who are expecting huge crowds after COVID-19 sidelined parades last year, have announced the traffic plans, which involve road closures ahead of parades, and parade-goers are being reminded to be patient, especially after parades when traffic is heaviest.
Here are the traffic plans. Times are subject to revision, depending on traffic and crowds.
Krewe of Neptune parade, Saturday
The parade is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. and will include 41 floats, 15 marching bands, three fire trucks, multiple police units, a horse and carriage, and 15 other types of parade units.
Noon – Parade units begin lining up near the route start at Main Street and the railroad tracks.
5 p.m. – Police close the parade route to traffic until the event ends. Click here to the parade route.
Gulf Coast Carnival Association parade, Tuesday
The parade is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and will include 95 floats, three marching bands, three fire trucks, multiple police units, and 20 other types of parade units.
9:30 a.m. – Parade units begin lining up near the route start at Main Street and MLK Jr. Boulevard.
11 a.m. – Police reduce U.S. 90 in parade route to two-lane traffic in the two southernmost lanes.
Noon – Police close I-110 southbound. Motorist must take Division or Bayview exits.
12:30 p.m. – Police close the parade route to traffic until the event ends. Click here to the parade route.
In addition, there will be a memorial second liner-type parade on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. in downtown Biloxi. In honor of a Mississippi family, a parade of 75 walkers, two cars, and one band will march from Doris C. Busch Park on Esters Boulevard to John Henry Beck Park on Division Street. The roadway will close at 10:30 a.m. and reopen once the procession reaches Beck Park.
News & notes: Reports, parade replays, council, BNews
The week that was: Weekly reports from the departments of Police, Fire, Community Development, and Engineering are now online for your review. To see the report from last week and an archive of weekly reports, click here.
Children’s parade: The annual Children’s Mardi Gras Walking Parade took place in downtown Biloxi on Feb. 19. To see photos from the parade, click here. To see a video of the parade, click here.
Dog parade: The annual Barkloxi Pawarde filled Biloxi Town Green and Lameuse Street with wagging tails and Mardi Gras costumes on Feb. 20. To see a video clip of the dog parade, click here.
City Council: The Biloxi City Council will not meet next week because of Mardi Gras. The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, March 8 at 6 p.m. at Biloxi City Hall. To see more about city council, the meeting schedule, and past meeting recordings, click here.
BNews for March: The online version of BNews Monthly is now available, and the 24-page compendium should be arriving in all Biloxi mailboxes and PO boxes as early as Saturday. To see the March issue and the complete BNews archive, click here.
