The first Mardi Gras balls in South Mississippi were presented more than 100 years ago and continue today with pageantry, secrecy and elaborate costumes.
The pages of the Daily Herald and Sun Herald — and the archives at the Local History & Genealogy Department at the Biloxi Library — tell the history in photos and descriptions of the beaded, feathered and bejeweled costumes worn by the kings and queens and their courts.
“Sarah Rider, the seamstress, knows many things she dares not tell,” says a 1995 report in the Sun Herald. “She seems to be a typical mother of two who drives a van, but for half the year her attic is full of sparkling secrets.”
Reporter Patrick Peterson said in the article that until the night of the Mardi Gras ball, nobody can know what the costumes of the king and queen will look like. Works started in August to create the costumes for three Coast Mardi Gras balls, she said.
In 1994, the theme of the Southernettes carnival ball was “Take a Walk on the Wild Side,” and King Anthony Desporte and Queen Rhonda Broussard Ballinger wore costumes of lilac velvet, lavender opalescent organza and silver tissue lame’.
Also in 1994, the theme of the Krewe of Gemini’s 25th annual ball was Carnival in Rio.
Queen Leda Doris Layne Mahalak wore a gown of French lace with gold threads over tissue lame’. The Queen’s collar displayed a gold sun burst with mirrors and ostrich plumes sprinkled with Austrian crystals. King Thomas Ryle wore gold lame’ pants with a ruffled shirt and a coat with French lace over gold lame’ and studded with Austrian crystals and gold ostrich plumes. Both wore gold crowns with Austrian crystals and carried matching scepters.
In 1995, at the 47th annual Merry Maskers Ball at the Broadwater Beach Hotel, the ladies of the court were costumed in red and gold gowns to portray comets flashing across the starry sky. Krewe members dressed to represent Martians, Purple People Eaters, Trekies and Princess Leia of “Star Wars.’‘
Gulf Coast Carnival Association holds the largest celebration on the Coast the Monday before Mardi Gras Day. This year the Coronation Ball is Feb. 20 at the Coast Coliseum and krewe members will dress in tuxedos and formal-length gowns.
For those who want to see the costumes and experience the pageantry at the ball, free viewing tickets are available at Biloxi City Hall and the Biloxi Visitors Center.
About seven Krewe costumes from across the Coast are displayed at a time at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Mardi Gras Museum on Howard Avenue in downtown Biloxi, said executive director Anna Harris.
Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum at 792 Howard Ave. in downtown Biloxi celebrates the history and heritage of the Coast Mardi Gras with costumes and other displays. Mary Perez meperez@sunherald.com
Featured through Mardi Gras is a special display to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Krew of Les Masques.
“We love it when locals come in, especially at this time of year,” Harris said.
Besides seeing the costumes and accessories, visitors can dress up in some of the costumes and play like royalty in them.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and admission is $8 for adults, $7 for military and seniors and $5 for kids under age 12. It will be closed Mardi Gras Day because of the parades in downtown Biloxi.
This 1967 scene from a Gulf Coast Carnival Association parade in Biloxi is light years away from what the French Colonials, led by a man named Iberville, experienced for their first Mardi Gras on March 3, 1699. The French were anchored off Ship Island and would soon establish a colony named ‘Bilocci.’ The only visible link to that first Mississippi Coast Mardi Gras is the name of the GCCA’s monarch, King D’Iberville. THE L.J. ‘JOE’ SCHOLTES COLLECTION/SOUTHERN POSSUM TALES
maid wears a “springtime in the park” costume in 1985 at the Waveland Mardi Gras parade. Sun Herald/ Courtesy Biloxi Public Library
Parade attendees wore fancy hats during the Gulf Coast Carnival Association Mardi Gras Parade in Biloxi on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Hannah Ruhoff hruhoff@sunherald.com
Float riders dressed as pirates throw beads to the crowd during the Ocean Springs Carnival Association Night Parade in Ocean Springs on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. Hannah Ruhoff hruhoff@sunherald.com
A krewe of pirates waves and throws favors to the crowd at the Elks Mardi Gras Parade in Ocean Springs in 1990. Sun Herald/ Courtesy Biloxi Public Library
A member of the Ole Biloxi Marching Club gives a Mardi Gras kiss at the Nereids parade in 1987. Sun Herald/ Courtesy Biloxi Public Library
Leda Onita Mallery and King Jupiter Lewis Shanks toast the reviewing stand in front of Gulfport City Hall at the Krews of Gemini 1990 Mardi Gras Parade. Sun Herald/ Courtesy Biloxi Public Library
Gulf Coast Carnival Association Ball Dukes are shown in this 1973 photo from the Walter Fountain collection. Photo courtesy Biloxi Public Library
King D’Iberville Edward Barq Jr. in this 1953 photo from the Walter Fountain collection. Photo courtesy Biloxi Public Library
Mardi Gras gowns with sweeping trains are on display at Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs in this 2006 Sun Herald file photo. JAMES EDWARD BATES SUN HERALD FILE
Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum at 792 Howard Ave. in downtown Biloxi celebrates the history and heritage of the Coast Mardi Gras with costumes and other displays. Mary Perez meperez@sunherald.com
A Mardi Gras display of costumes made by Carter Church are on display in Bay St. Louis in this 2013 Sun Herald file photo. TIM ISBELL SUN HERALD
Elaborate headresses are worn by kings and queens at Coast Mardi Gras balls. This photo is from the Walter Fountain collection. Photo courtesy Biloxi Public Library
Gulf Coast Carnival Association 2007 royalty King D’Iberville James Howard Haynes and Queen Ixolib, Audrey Miles Bailey. JOHN FITZHUGH Sun Herald file
As floats move down U. S. 90, revelers toss beads to people lining the parade route at the 2013 Nereids Mardi Gras parade. Costumes often are worn by people on the floats and occasionally by those in the crowds. TIM ISBELL SUN HERALD
Costume designer, Margie McGraw holds up a fairy’s Mardi Gras costume while telling the customer on the phone that it’s ready for pick-up at the former Josette’s in Biloxi. She started working on Mardi Gras costumes in June and is still getting last minute orders. SEAN LOFTIN THE SUN HERALD
1992 Krewe of Neptune Parade Sun Herald/ Courtesy Biloxi Public Library
Hera Queen Amanda Collins Love 1992 Sun Herald/ Courtesy Biloxi Public Library
Mary has won numerous awards for her business and casino articles for the Sun Herald. She also writes about Biloxi, jobs and the new restaurants and development coming to the Coast. She is a fourth-generation journalist.
