‘It’s dead this year.’ Black Spring Break sees lighter crowds, traffic in Biloxi
The stretch of sandy beach from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum to Edgewater Mall has historically been the focal point of Black Spring Break, a weekend-long event that has drawn large crowds to Biloxi. That could be changing, though.
On Saturday, a small crowd of visitors still enjoyed the mid-70s weather and sunshine, dancing, chatting, taking photos and relaxing at the beach. But among Black Spring Break regulars there was a recurring comment: the crowd at that stretch of beach seemed lighter than previous years.
“It’s dead this year,” said Antoine Taylor who travels down to Biloxi from Brandon for the event annually.
Taylor says his family’s construction company owns a lot in the area behind Surf Style, which is across from the beach where spring breakers normally gather. In past years, Taylor says they’ve allowed spring breakers to park on the lot for a donation. This year, though, he says, no one is parked on the land.
Law enforcement, dozens of whom could be seen patrolling among the beachgoers on Saturday afternoon, have noticed the change.
“So far, this is one of the lightest crowds that we’ve seen for this weekend,” said Sgt. Candace Young, a public information officer with the Biloxi Police Department, as she stood outside Edgewater Mall on Saturday afternoon.
According to Young, 177 total officers from different agencies are on duty for spring break. Law enforcement could be seen all along Highway 90 on Saturday, conducting traffic stops, patrolling and observing. Traffic was lighter than in previous years during the day, though it did begin to pick up by Saturday night.
Police reported that there was a shooting in the early hours of Saturday at the Days Inn in Biloxi that left a man with life-threatening injuries. Two suspects were arrested, Keyronic Deshun Stewart, 40, and Saterius Virshon Cobb, 45. Both are from Jackson, Louisiana, and the suspects and victim are all believed to have come to the Mississippi Coast for Spring Break activities. Charges in the case were upgraded Monday when the victim died.
A changing landscape
In past years, concerts at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and food vendors along the north side of that stretch of Highway 90 have drawn large crowds to both sides of the road.
After a shooting outside Surf Style in 2023, Biloxi city leaders passed new ordinances requiring a new permitting system for special events. In 2024, Black Spring Break was denied a permit. This year, organizers did not apply for a permit. Without a permit, organizers can’t bring in vendors or organize additional parking. The Mississippi Coast Coliseum did not have any concerts scheduled during Black Spring Break this year.
Visitors are free to visit the beach but there are no longer vendors or paid events, as there were in past years. Without a permit, parking is limited.
According to Young, beachgoers can park in the parking service lots off Highway 90 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., but the service lot on that stretch of beach is closed off once the spots are all taken.
With no permit, Black Spring Break organizers seem to be focusing their attention away from the stretch of beach between the coliseum and mall.
On Saturday, organizers posted on Facebook that there was parking and games at a stretch of beach near Shaggy’s and Sharkheads in Biloxi. Many of the events organizers have planned are in Gulfport, including an after party at 9 p.m. on Saturday at Elaine’s Place to Be, a Sunday brunch at that same location, and a car show at Gulfport Dragway at 1 p.m. on Sunday. More events can be found on organizers’ Facebook pages.
This story was originally published April 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM.
