A member of a marching club cheers as he turns onto Government Street during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.
Hannah Ruhoff
Sun Herald
The clouds parted Saturday, after what seemed like a week straight of rain, just in time for the Ocean Springs’ Elks Carnival Parade and the Krewe of Unique Parade.
Dozens of floats, bands and marchers braved puddles as they took to the streets of downtown Ocean Springs in two of the Mississippi Coast’s first parades of the 2024 Carnival season.
The parades had planned to roll rain or shine anyway, Dave Thexton, a chairman at the Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade, told the Sun Herald on Friday, despite thunderstorms in the forecast on Saturday morning.
Despite the forecast, large crowds came out to watch the back-to-back parades, and the sun was shining by the time the celebration was over.
Here are photos from the parades.
Parade attendees cheer for beads during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
The Ole Biloxi Marching Club marches in the Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Miss Bufkin, of Laurel, watches as Oakleigh Reid, 2, plays with a pretend trumpet during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Members of the Alcorn State Marching Band march down Government during the Krewe of Unique Parade following The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A man wears a masquerade mask during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Parade attendees cheer for beads during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A family puts a string of beads around their baby during the Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Parade attendees cheer for beads as floats pass by during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A member of parade royalty throws beads during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A member of the Ole Biloxi Marching Club hands out plastic roses during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A parade attendee with a sign for Moon Pies during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A woman holds a plastic rose in her mouth during the Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Parade attendees cheer for beads during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Parade attendees cheer for beads during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A float rider throws beads during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A member of the Ole Biloxi Marching Club kisses a parade goer on the cheek during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A member of a marching club dances during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Parade attendees cheer for beads during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A float rider throws beads during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Members of a Shriner’s club pass out throws during the Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Members of the Vigor High School Band march during the Krewe of Unique Parade following The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Parade attendees cheer for beads during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Military members carry flags of different states during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A float rider throws beads during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Parade attendees cheer for beads during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Women dressed as Wonder Woman hand out throws during the Krewe of Unique Parade following The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A Pascagoula police officer high-fives attendees before the start of The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Parade attendees cheer for beads during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Members of the Ole Biloxi Marching Club during The Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Members of a Shriner’s club pass out throws during the Ocean Springs Elks Carnival Parade in downtown Ocean Springs on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
This story was originally published January 28, 2024 at 4:00 AM.
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