We've talked all about the history of Mardi Gras and its significance in Biloxi, but this week, we at Biloxi Shrimp Co. want to dive even further into the traditions of Mardi Gras. Why? Because Biloxi can’t get enough of Mardi Gras!

Today, we’re talking all about perhaps the most memorable aspect of Mardi Gras: the parades!

What would Mardi Gras be without its iconic parades? A time when city streets make way for extravagant floats of all shapes and sizes, throwing out beads, candy and more to all the partygoing people waiting in the wings below. For over 100 years, parade floats have been a key feature of Mardi Gras, escalating parades to a whole new level.

Parade floats can be designed around just about anything, but most of the time krewes (or those who organize the festivities) will build off of a particular theme for each year. These floats are no small affair, and definitely not a cheap one at that, as they’re more often than not the result of thousands of dollars spent working on them for the entire year. Krewes will even go out of their way to build their floats within secret “dens” in order to hide their creations from citizens and other krewes. However, once Mardi Gras finally rolls around, they’re put out on display in the streets for everyone to see!

The Krewe of Mystic Masqueraders' float (courtesy of Grover Switzer on Facebook).

To make Mardi Gras celebrations in Biloxi last as long as possible, we have parades that go on all month long: this year alone, we have over 20 parades with floats from krewes all over the Coast!

If you happen to be in Biloxi or anywhere else on the Coast during Mardi Gras, be sure to make your way to one of the parades and ask all the krewes on the floats to throw you some goodies!

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