Mardi Gras on Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast

Florida Beach Towns from Panama City to Pensacola Embrace Carnival

Feb 22, 2009

Mardi Gras beads, parades and king cake mark the start of Lent,but carnival celebrations have moved from New Orleans to Florida beach towns like Navarre Beach and Destin.

The origins of Mardi Gras go back to Roman times and the celebration of Lupercalia for the Roman god of fertility and agriculture. Modern American celebrations began with French immigrants in the early 18th-Century, and by the 19th–Century, Mardi Gras was firmly established on the Gulf Coast. Mardi Gras, a French term meaning "Fat Tuesday,” most likely refers to the indulgent nature of the pre-Lenten celebration.

Officially, Mardi Gras is the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. The carnival season consists of the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras day, beginning with Epiphany on January 6th, a Christian holiday commemorating the visit of the Three Kings to the Christ Child. Mardi Gras is always 47 days before Easter, which can fall on any Sunday between March 23 and April 15.

Mardi Gras traditions include a king cake, another French idea where a round cake was baked with a porcelain Christ Child hidden inside to symbolize the circular route used by the Three Kings to find the Child, a route which was taken to confuse King Herod. The person who got the piece with the hidden Child was said to have good luck for the coming year.

Another tradition is that of the Mardi Gras colors of gold for power, green for faith and purple for justice. These colors are used everywhere from the icing on king cakes, to garland, to the famous Mardi Gras beads, called “throws” tossed from parade floats.

Along the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast, a region called simply THE Beach, Mardi Gras celebrations have slowly taken hold. Once the domain of Mobile and New Orleans, where the original celebration began, more and more Florida beach towns are embracing the winter festival and creating their own traditions.

Generally more tempered and family friendly than the raucous New Orleans carnival celebrations, these festivals none the less include Krewes, nonprofit Mardi Gras clubs that put on the shows and pay the cost of the floats, costumes and throws. They also lend financial support to charitable causes in the community. Below are a few of the Mardi Gras celebrations found along Florida’s Gulf Coast and the Krewes that sponsor them.

Panama City

Krewe of Massalina block party – day long music and food event with a costume contest and evening parade

Mardi Gras in St. Andrews – amusement rides, food and beverage booths, Kids Parade, Pet Parade and a Pirate Invasion

Destin

Harborwalk at Emerald Grande – sidewalk sale, Jambalaya Cook-Off, Pet Costume Contest, Zydeco music and a Mardi Gras Parade of floats on golf carts

Fort Walton Beach

Mardi Gras by the Sea Ball at the Mall - carnival atmosphere and live music at Santa Rosa Mall

Navarre Beach

Mardi Gras Parade – family friendly and one of the oldest and biggest in the area sponsored by the Navarre Krewe of Jesters

Pensacola

Over 100 Krewes offer balls, parties and parades for a month leading up to Fat Tuesday

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