Photo: Courtesy of visitpensacola.com
Let the good times roll in Pensacola this Mardi Gras! Here's a snapshot of everything you need to know to join in on all the fun!
Thanks to this coastal city's French roots, Mardi Gras has a long colorful history here. Pensacola's Mardi Gras was first officially celebrated in in 1874. Today, its festivities rival those in cities like New Orleans and Mobile which are renowned for their Carnival celebrations.
The official kickoff for Pensacola's Mardi Gras season is two and half weeks after Christmas. Each year, thousands of people enjoy the fun-filled season that culminates in late February.
Photo:Courtesy of pensacolamardigras.com
The city's Mardi Gras celebrations cater to people of all ages. Many of the events are presented by krewes, which are social organizations that raise money for charitable groups by hosting parties, balls, food drives and more. Their colorful, glittery floats are also the stars of the many weekend Mardi Gras parades weekends. Krewe members deck the floats and toss candy, beads and other goodies to crowds lining the parade routes.
The Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade is historically the largest and most celebrated of the season's parades. It's also the largest annual gathering in downtown Pensacola according to event organizers. Crowds can top 100,000 with approximately 6,000 parade participants.You can join in the fun on Saturday, February 26 from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of kreweoflafitte.com
Another crowd favorite is the Krewe of Lafitte's Illuminated Parade. This nighttime parade features floats decked out with lights and all the fun that comes with Mardi Gras parades. You can catch it, along with more beads, on Friday, February 25 in Downtown Pensacola. A full schedule of Pensacola's Mardi Gras events can be found here: https://pensacolamardigras.com/events/ If you're looking for a place to stay in Pensacola, we have a great variety to choose from. Browse our collection of vacation rentals where you can rest your head in between all the celebrations and get ready to laissez le bon temps rouler!
