A huge Carnival season has arrived. Here’s the list of 2025 MS Coast Mardi Gras parades
The buildup to Mardi Gras has started as parades roll along the Mississippi Gulf Coast through the big day, on March 4.
Law enforcement agencies are reviewing South Mississippi parade plans and security after the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans, where the country’s highest security threat designation has. been granted for federal support during Mardi Gras.
In South Mississippi, city, county and state agencies work across jurisdictional lines during Carnival season parades.
Revelers will find one major change for the two big Biloxi parades: the Krewe of Neptune on the evening of March 1 and the Gulf Coast Carnival Association’s Mardi Gras day parade on March 4.
The route has been changed so the parades will no longer cross the CSX railroad tracks, often an obstacle and a potential safety hazard. Revelers like to slip between rail cars if a train happens to be stopped on the tracks, which could result in tragedy. Otherwise, the trains stall parades.
“It never fails,” Neptune parade Captain Chet Landry said. “There’s always a train coming through and it cuts our parade in half.”
The new route, he said, “just helps us keep a streamlined event from start to finish. We don’t have to endure huge stops.”
The route starts south of the tracks on Main Street, winds its way through downtown to Howard Avenue and ends at Porter Avenue and U.S. 90.
GCCA generally expects crowds of 80,000 or more for its big parade.
Saturday, Feb. 8
10 a.m., Biloxi Children’s Mardi Gras Walking Parade, Biloxi.
Saturday, Feb. 15
Noon, Pass Christian Carnival Association Country Parade, Pass Christian
1 p.m., Ocean Springs Elks Mardi Gras Parade, Ocean Springs.
Saturday, February 22
10:30 a.m., Krewe of Little Rascals Parade, Pascagoula.
6 p.m., Carnival Association of Long Beach Parade, Long Beach.
7 p.m., Gautier Men’s Club Mardi Gras Parade, Gautier.
Sunday, February 23
Noon, Krewe of Nereids Parade, Waveland. POSTPONED to Tuesday, March 4
12:30 p.m. (11 a.m. check-in), Krewe of Barkloxi Pet PAWrade. Point Cadet, Biloxi. POSTPONED to Monday, March 3
Friday, February 28
6 p.m., Ocean Springs Carnival Association Night Parade, Ocean Springs.
Saturday, March 1
Noon, Krewe of Diamondhead Parade, Diamondhead.
Noon, Jackson County Carnival Association Parade, Pascagoula.
2 p.m., Krewe of Gemini Parade, Gulfport.
5:30 p.m., Krewe of Neptune Night Parade, Biloxi.
Sunday, March 2
Noon., St. Paul’s Carnival Association Parade, Pass Christian.
1 p.m., Second Street Social Club Parade, Gulfport.
1:30 p.m., North Bay Area Mardi Gras Association Parade, D’Iberville.
Monday, March 3
1 p.m., Krewe of Barkloxi Pet PAWrade. Point Cadet, Biloxi.
5:30 p.m., Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse Lundi Gras Parade, Bay St. Louis.
Fat Tuesday, March 4
9:30 a.m., Krewe of Nereids Parade, Waveland. (NEW START TIME)
Noon, Krewe of Real People, Bay St. Louis. (NEW START TIME)
1 p.m., Gulf Coast Carnival Association parade, Biloxi.
This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
