Plan now to attend Mardi Gras Celebration 2025 on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. At least 21 Mardi Gras parades may be scheduled for the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2025. The 2025 calendar will be updated as parades are scheduled in the coming months. Sign up to receive notices of new blog articles. Check back later in the year for updates on the parade schedule.
You thought that New Orleans was the only place in North America with Mardi Gras. I was completely unaware that the idea of a Mardi Gras parade and season did not start in New Orleans but instead in Mobile, AL. Mardi Gras parades are held all along the northern Gulf of Mexico as far West as the Texas border. But this article is not about other states so let’s get into the Gulf Coast parades.
Countdown until Fat Tuesday, February 13, 2025
Mardi Gras or Carnival season actually begins on the 12th night. 12 days after Christmas. A Christian holy day. Many Krewes schedule festive balls for the 12th night celebrations.
Most Mardi Gras parades are usually scheduled within two weeks of Fat Tuesday. In 2025 Fat Tuesday is March 4. Mississippi Gulf Coast cities host at least one parade with some hosting day and evening parades. Attending a day parade and an evening parade gives you two different experiences.
An estimated 100,000+ attended the Biloxi Mardi Gras parade in 2024. The Krewe of Neptune night parade in Biloxi is the largest on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Dozens of floats, marching bands, and many entertainers line the 1.5 miles of city streets. Krewe of Neptune Biloxi night parade route click here.
Bring your chair
Some hardcore parade attendees come every year. They know the routine. Come early to park your car closer. Bring chairs, ice chests, blankets if it’s cool, and other comforts. Stake out your area and move in. Some people tailgate, cooking on the back of their vehicles.
This is a family affair, bring everyone. Dress for the weather which for us locals is cool this time of the year. There are a few parades without fences so be sure to keep the kids close. Be prepared to catch beads and other goodies as the Krew members on the floats throw them to you. One year, I caught several moon pies. My wife and one of our friends caught sequined bras (strange but real).
Be prepared to meet people. People are friendly, say hello to those around you, ask where they are from and you may meet some new friends.
Mardi Gras Event Schedule
The 2025 event schedule is not yet available, check back.
MY FAVORITES
I must admit that I have not been to all of the parades. Since I live in Ocean Springs, I must admit that with some bias this is one of my favorites. The parade winds through the town allowing for lots of viewing space. You are very close to the action here. They have two parades but I like the night parade beast.
The lights and sounds and the people just love it. What a great way to wind down a day or week. It can be noisy so be prepared for lots of screening. Be sure not to get in the way of people grabbing for beads thrown from the floats.
The Biloxi Day parade is nice as well because it includes bands and performers from all over the country. It seemed that about half of the high school bands in Mississippi attended. Those kids are terrific. The Gulfport parade is equally as large with many bands and performers. Try to attend one of the larger parades and one of the smaller parades, each has its character.
Each of the parades has its character and the KREWES work hard all year to get ready for the parades. FYI, the parades are not the only activities that take place. The KREWES have masked balls during the season, joining a Krewe is similar to joining a club. Consider becoming a Krewe member and join in all of their annual events which include much more than just the Mardi Gras season.
History of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras or Carnival came from Europe and is still an important event in France, Italy, Brazil, and Germany (perhaps more countries) to this day. When I was stationed in Germany, I learned of Fasching season which is much the same as Mardi Gras. People dress up and party until Fat Tuesday the day before Ash Wednesday. Among the largest celebrations are the carnival in Venice, Italy, and Rio each year. These follow the same basic religious calendar with Fat Tuesday or the day before Ash Wednesday being the beginning of Lent.
People who live along the Gulf Coast have grown up with Mardi Gras since it started in the last century in Mobile. Without a doubt, they were not throwing out moon pies when they started. The KREWS or clubs are usually local and derive their membership from the local community. Just about everyone from the area knows someone who belongs to one of the KREWES.
As you can see above, Mardi Gras is more than just parades. The king cake is a favorite of the Mardi Gras season. This special cake has a surprise inside. The Mardi Gras tree morphs from the Christmas tree to the Mardi Gras tree with all of the Mardi Gras colors. Several of the casinos have very large ones like the one above.
Another reason why I like the Mississippi Gulf Coast
One of the most popular articles on this site is about why I decided to move to Ocean Springs from California. You can read it by clicking on the link. Mardi Gras is one of those small pleasures that you can look forward to every year. My wife and I have a calendar of sorts listing all of the events that we want to attend. You have to schedule these or you will forget and attend another. There are so many events all year it’s hard to keep track of them.
Mardi Gras is one of our favorites and we will attend one or two parades. As I was building the calendar, I thought about which ones I wanted to attend in 2024.
If you want to read another article that is somewhat similar but with more details try reading why you need to retire on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. If you think it’s too soon to think about retirement, you need to read some of our articles about the topic you may be surprised about. Just as I was surprised about all of the Mardi Gras activity on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, you may learn something you did not know about the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Mardi Gras Krewes
I was thinking that adding some of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Mardi Gras Krew contact information might be something my readers may be interested in. As I have mentioned above, belonging to a Mardi Gras Krewe is not just about the annual parade. Krewes are clubs with activities throughout the year. The two biggest events are the Ball which takes place after January 1 and the Mardi Gras parade.
Take a look at some of Krewe’s websites and Facebook accounts, and see the costumes and activities they get involved in. Some of the Krewe sites below provide parade routes and other information. If you are local, you may want to join a Krew. A friend of mine just joined one of the Krews for the social aspects. The following are just a few of the many Krewes located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Krewe of Salacia – The ladies Krewe started in 2018.
Gulf Coast Carnival Association – Located in Biloxi, this is the oldest Carnival organization.
Gautier Mens Club – Sponsors the Gautier Mardi Gras Parade each year
Krewe of Neptune – Based in Biloxi and sponsor of one of the largest parades
Krewe of Elaine’s Mardi Gras Club– A Gulfport-based organization
Krewe of Gemni – Gulfport Krewe
Krewe Unique – Ocean Springs-based Krewe
Krewe of Niord – Pascagoula Krewe
Krewe of Diamondhead – City of Diamondhead-based Krewe
Krewe of Essence – One of Moss Point’s Krewe’s.
Krewe of Athena – Located in D’Iberville
Ocean Springs Carnival Association – Krewe that puts on the Ocean Springs night parade
Mystic Krewe of Pine Island – Vancleve participates in multiple parades each year
Krewe of Nereids – Based in Waveland participates in MS Gulf Coast Parades
Krewe of Keesler AFB – Not exactly a Krewe but they march in parades on the Coast. Hoorah!
Krewe of SeaBee – Not exactly a Krewe, they march in Mardi Gras parades. Hoorah!
Carnival Association of Long Beach – Residents from Long Beach join in the fun
Note: if your Krewe is not mentioned here, contact us with information and it will be posted.
The King and Queen
Each Krewe elects a King and Queen every year to represent the Krewe in activities plus the Mardi Gras Parade float. The photo above is one example of the pageantry that goes on within the Krewes preceding Mardi Gras each year. Check out the links above to see more photos of the various Krewes activities.
Where to stay
If you live in the area, drive to the event and drive back home after. If you are traveling to the area, we suggest that you stay at a vacation rental property. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is ground zero for great vacation rental properties.
ChristiesGulfBeachRentals.com is an option for accommodations during your Mardi Gras stay. Christies is offering free travel insurance to guests who book directly on their site. Also, Christies is offering a discount for next year, 2025 bookings if they are made before June 1, 2024.
You can’t visit without tasting some of our great food. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is known for its fresh seafood, particularly freshly caught gulf shrimp. Mardi Gras is crawfish season, you have to try a crawfish boil offered at many restaurants. Try our Mississippi catfish as well. Come and visit us. Our winter is not like your winter. We complain when the weather gets to 65 degrees as being cold. If you are digging out of snow, come visit and thaw out.
Mardi Gras season is a great time to visit. If you like it here, buy a vacation home or move here. Contact Logan-Anderson, Gulf Coastal Realtors, or visit their site by clicking on this line. When my wife and I travel, we like to see what house prices are in the area. Take a look.
Additional resources
Parade routes are available at official city websites and the Krewe sites listed above. If you would like to see and do more while you are visiting, check Christie’s Gulf Beach Rentals Activities site which lists many things to do on the Coast.
Like parades? Plan to attend a Saint Patrick’s Day parade on March 16, 2024, in downtown Biloxi. The Hibernia Marching Society sponsors this parade every year.
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