One of the best ways to celebrate Mardi Gras is a parade. And parade we will in Coastal Mississippi! Every community down here knows how to party and they’re all sending invitations your way. The parades on The Secret Coast are family friendly and are always a great time. Now, all you have to do is know where to go, when to go, and what to bring. But first, you really need to get familiar with the terminology. Here’s a handy glossary that may help you get started:
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Duke (n) - One of the male members of the royal court at Mardi Gras events.
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Float (n) - A decorated party on wheels that rolls in a Mardi Gras Parade.
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Grand Marshal (n) - A guest of honor of a Krewe or Carnival Assocation. The Grand Marshal generally rides in his or her own float in a parade.
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King (n) - Mardi Gras royalty who is generally selected from the Krewe. Some parades feature the King on his own float.
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Krewe (n) - A Mardi Gras organization that hosts parties, balls, and sometimes their own parades. If a krewe isn’t hosting its own parade, it will generally roll in other parades.
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“Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler” (phrase) - A great way to get everybody pumped up at the parade. It means “Let the Good Times Roll” in French.
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Maid (n) - One of the female members of the royal court at Mardi Gras events.
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Queen (n) - Mardi Gras royalty who is generally selected from the Krewe. Some parades feature the Queen on her own float.
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Throw (n) - Anything that can be tossed off of a float. This could be beads, which is the most popular item, or it could be plastic cups, miniature footballs, doubloons, moonpies, even something as wacky as a loaf of bread. Get ready to catch, and bring a bag to haul it away in.
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“Throw Me Somethin’ Mister” (phrase) - This phrase is used to get the float riders attention so that they can toss one (or many) of the throws your way.
We’ve got a full schedule of Mardi Gras parades for weeks leading up to the big day that you won’t want to miss. Browse our list below and check out the maps of each route so that you can get positioned to catch as many throws as you can.
FEBRUARY 8
ELKS MARDI GRAS PARADE
OCEAN SPRINGS
1PM
KREWE UNIQUE PARADE
OCEAN SPRINGS
BATTLE OF THE BANDS BEGINS AT NOON
PARADE BEGINS AT 2PM
PASS CHRISTIAN KIDS CARNIVAL ASSOCIATION PARADE
PASS CHRISTIAN
1PM
FEB 15
CHILDREN’S WALKING PARADE
BILOXI
10AM
KREWE OF LITTLE RASCALS PARADE
PASCAGOULA
1PM
MYSTIC KREWE OF PINE ISLAND PARADE
VANCLEAVE
1:30PM
CARNIVAL ASSOCIATION OF LONG BEACH PARADE
LONG BEACH
6PM
GAUTIER MEN’S CLUB PARADE
GAUTIER
7PM
FEB 16
KREWE OF NEREIDS PARADE
WAVELAND
12PM
KREWE OF BARKLOXI PARADE
BILOXI TOWN GREEN
1PM
FEB 21
OCEAN SPRINGS NIGHT PARADE
OCEAN SPRINGS
7PM
FEBRUARY 22
DIAMONDHEAD PARADE
DIAMONDHEAD
12PM
SECOND LINERS MARDI GRAS CLUB PARADE
BILOXI
12PM
JACKSON COUNTY CARNIVAL ASSOCATION PARADE
PASCAGOULA
1PM
GEMINI PARADE
GULFPORT
2PM
KREWE OF NEPTUNE PARADE
BILOXI
5:30PM
FEBRUARY 23
ST. PAUL CARNIVAL ASSOCIATION
PASS CHRISTIAN
12:30PM
D'IBERVILLE ST. MARTIN NORTH BAY
D'IBERVILLE
1:30PM
FEBRUARY 24
MYSTIC KREWE OF THE SEAHORSE
BAY ST LOUIS
5PM
FEBRUARY 25 (FAT TUESDAY)
KREWE OF REAL PEOPLE THE NEXT GENERATION PARADE
BAY ST LOUIS
1PM
GULF COAST CARNIVAL ASSOCIATION PARADE
BILOXI
1PM
KREWE OF GEMINI NIGHT PARADE
GULFPORT
5:30PM
PAST PARADES
FEBRUARY 1
LIZANA MARDI GRAS PARADE
LIZANA
1PM