Biloxi, Mississippi– Some folks think Mardi Gras is something you find on Bourbon Street, but folks on the Mississippi Gulf Coast have made Mardi Gras a staple of their own.
Some krewes and their parades date back nearly 70 years. Over time, the bead-tossing, parade floating, ball-dancing traditions have made it over to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in a big way.
“I used to go to New Orleans, about fifty years ago,” says one parade-goer, “I was on Bourbon Street and stuck in the crowd when it began to sway and police had to clear it. I told God if I ever made it out, I’d never go back.”
Others just wanted to see Mardi Gras come to their city. They saw the start of it, and have seen it grow over the years.
“I used to be on the parade floats, many years ago. Now I just watch it go by,” says a member of the Biloxi Yacht Club, “It’s for the young folks. I’ve been coming out to these things on the Coast for fifty years.”
On the Gulf Coast you’ll find more than just the parades. For nearly a month, Mardi Gras krewes come together for formal balls. The events are lined up back-to-back for over a month.
“We have men’s krewes and women’s crews,” says the club member,” and they invite as many people as they can.”
The krewes vary from formal to semi-formal. Some krewes, Like Les Belle Fleurs, have smaller groups within the Krewe that perform choreographed dances before the ball begins. They also welcome their new King and Queen at the start of each event.
Of course with Mississippi being the most charitable state, The big lavish parties are more than just fun. The Krewes may also use their ball as fundraising for charities or folks in need.
All in all, Mardi Gras in the southern part of the state is not just parades, not just formals, but an experience that makes up the unique culture of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. If the formal ball isn’t your thing, there are multiple parades a day during the Mardi Gras season. To get in on all the fun, one parade-goer says there’s just one thing you’ve got to learn to do. She says, “learn to say throw me something, mister!”
Here’s a taste of all the fun from the 2015 Les Belle Fleur Mardi Gras Ball:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWTQPzpHPak
And here’s what folks say about Mardi Gras on the Coast:
