Pensacola Beach Blvd. at 2 p.m. This is a Mardi Gras parade with an island atmosphere. No one leaves the island beadless! After the parade, parties are everywhere including the Shaker, the Break and the Islander. The paraders continue to have fun at the Boardwalk while they wait for the results of the judges, and trophies to be awarded for the best floats. Call 850-932-1500 or visit www.kowrecks.com.

Downtown Pensacola at 2 p.m. One of the country’s original celebration sites, Pensacola hosts this family-oriented Mardi Gras parade in the historical downtown area.  Crowds catch beads, doubloons and moonpies galore as they are thrown from floats. Continue the fun after the parade at Seville Quarter. Call 850-436-7638 or visit www.pensacolamardigras.com.

Downtown Pensacola at 5:45 p.m. Anyone 21 and over can celebrate Fat Tuesday at the annual Mardi Gras Priscus Procession & Priscus Ball. Participants march the streets of downtown Pensacola to Seville Quarter. Call 850-436-7638.

Downtown Pensacola. The only illuminated nighttime parade in Pensacola. The crowd can expect to be entertained with marching bands, lighted floats and great throws as the Krewe of Lafitte kicks off Pensacola Mardi Gras celebrations. Beginning at Spring & Garden Streets. Call 850-436-7638 or visit www.pensacolamardigras.com.

Downtown Pensacola at 5:45 p.m. Anyone 21 and over can celebrate Fat Tuesday at the annual Mardi Gras Priscus Procession & Priscus Ball. Participants march the streets of downtown Pensacola to Seville Quarter. Call 850-436-7638.

Pensacola Beach Blvd. at 2 p.m. This is a Mardi Gras parade with an island atmosphere. No one leaves the island beadless! After the parade, parties are everywhere including the Shaker, the Break and the Islander. The paraders continue to have fun at the Boardwalk while they wait for the results of the judges, and trophies to be awarded for the best floats. Call 850-932-1500. Web site: www.kowrecks.com.

Downtown Pensacola at 2 p.m. One of the country’s original celebration sites, Pensacola hosts this family-oriented Mardi Gras parade in the historical downtown area.  Crowds catch beads, doubloons and moonpies galore as they are thrown from floats. Continue the fun after the parade at Seville Quarter. Call 850-436-7648. Web site: www.pensacolamardigras.com.

Downtown Pensacola. The only illuminated nighttime parade in Pensacola. The crowd can expect to be entertained with marching bands, lighted floats and great throws as the Krewe of Lafitte kicks off Pensacola Mardi Gras celebrations. Beginning at Spring & Garden Streets. Call 850-436-7638. Web site: www.pensacolamardigras.com.

Laissez Les Bons Temps Roulez  {lay zay lay bon ton rool lay} or “Let the good times roll!”  It’s Mardi Gras season and Pensacola’s Mardi Gras traditions are well worthy of your participating. 

The parades in Pensacola and on Pensacola Beach will take place the weekend of February 1-3 with a parade to view each day leading up to Fat Tuesday on February 5.  The Krewe of Lafitte will roll on Friday night February 1 at 7:00 p.m. in downtown Pensacola.  On Saturday, February 2, the Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade will take place at 2:00 starting on Spring Street, turning onto Palafox up to Wright Street, then ending up at Main and Zaragoza Street.  The after-party will be at Seville Quarter on Government Street downtown.  On Sunday, February 3, another parade will roll on Pensacola Beach in the afternoon.

The Grand parade will feature over 200 floats with 7,000 people parading, and 100,000 spectators are expected.  This brings the Pensacola Mardi Gras season to a new level. 

Mardi Gras in Pensacola started in the 1800’s with the First Knights of Priscus, then it declined until the early 1900’s.  It was in this time period that horse drawn Mardi Gras floats paraded on Palafox Street, courts were held with kings and queens and coronations happened at balls.  In the 1930’s, with the depression, Mardi Gras died off again.  It was in the early 1980’s in Pensacola that Mardi Gras saw a rebirth and now the city is getting back to the tradition, and this year is expected to reach new heights.

Make plans to catch a parade in Pensacola and bring the entire family to this event. Make your hotel reservations early in Downtown Pensacola or on Pensacola Beach to be near the action.  To learn more go to www.pensacolamardigras.com.