Your Guide to Celebrating Mardi Gras on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Get ready to let the good times roll! We’re sure you’re familiar with Mardi Gras, but have you ever had the pleasure of celebrating it on the Mississippi Gulf Coast? There’s nothing quite like it. Our area is home to an array of fun-filled celebrations, and people travel from all over to experience the unique energy of Mardi Gras in Biloxi.

Immerse Yourself in Colorful Festivities

As the new year begins, the Mississippi Gulf Coast eagerly kicks off one of its most infamous and beloved celebrations—Mardi Gras!

When is Mardi Gras?

The Gulf Coast Carnival season officially begins in early January and builds in excitement with events, festivals, and parades lasting all the way until Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras, which is French for "Fat Tuesday," marks the final day of the Carnival season. The date changes each year, but it always falls on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is 46 days before Easter.

How to Celebrate Mardi Gras in Biloxi

The Parades

Carnival parades have been a staple in Mississippi for over 100 years, and today more than 20 separate parades roll throughout the Gulf Coast during the season. You'll see beautifully decorated floats, live entertainment, and dazzling costumes. A highlight for many is catching the trinkets—or "throws"—tossed from the floats. Favorite items include colorful beads, doubloons, and stuffed animals.

Be sure to check out some of our favorite parades in Biloxi and the surrounding coastal towns:

1. Annual Ocean Springs - Elks Mardi Gras Parade
2. Annual Carnival Association of Long Beach Mardi Gras Parade
3. Annual Krewe Of Gemini Mardi Gras Day Parade in Gulfport
4. Annual Krewe of Neptune Night Mardi Gras Parade in Biloxi
5. Annual St. Paul Mardi Gras Parade in Pass Christian
6. Annual Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse "Lundi Gras" Parade in Bay St Louis

Other Mardi Gras Events

Beyond the parades, the "Carnival on the Coast" is packed with other thrilling events that get bigger and better every year!

1. Annual Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse "Mutiny in the Bay" in Bay St Louis
2. Krewe of Les Belle Fleurs Annual Mardi Gras Ball in Biloxi
3. Annual Gulf Coast Carnival Association Coronation Ball in Biloxi
4. Live music and special events at local Biloxi bars and restaurants

And so much more!