Mardi Gras on the Mississippi Gulf Coast – 2026

You thought Mardi Gras was held only in New Orleans. The Mississippi Gulf Coast has many Mardi Gras parades leading up to Ash Wednesday. We have a large variety of parades (over 20) as the KREWS come from all over the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Cities host the parades on various days during the season.

All of the parades have something to offer spectators and you do not have to go far to attend one. Cities and communities on the Mississippi Gulf Coast support many Krewes who enter floats into parades that they sponsor along with local organizations.

Parade Schedule- January-February 2026

Check out our calendar of parades on our Events page click below:

Come prepared

Bring your chairs and ice chests and stake your claim along one of the parade routes. You are lucky, you may be able to park our car and tailgate. Bring the family, it’s fun and more like a picnic with entertainment.

My favorites include the night parade in downtown Ocean Springs. This parade is entertaining, with lots of people having great fun. Night parades show off all of the lights.

Don’t miss the Biloxi parade; this is a big one with bands and performers from all over the country, even from California. This parade starts at 1 PM on Fat Tuesday. Bring a bag for all of those beads you will collect.

Why come to the Mississippi Gulf Coast for Mardi Gras?

Feature	Mississippi Gulf Coast	New Orleans
Crowds	Spacious and relaxed — easy to find a good spot	Wall-to-wall people; 300,000+ in one parade day
Family-Friendliness	Perfect for kids, seniors, church and school groups	Fun but can be wild and adult-themed
Parking & Traffic	Easy driving, free or low-cost parking	Heavy traffic, expensive or distant parking lots
Cost of Stay	Hotels & rentals far cheaper — even oceanfront	Peak pricing — often double or triple rates
Number of Parade Options	Dozens across Biloxi, Gulfport, Long Beach, Ocean Springs, Pass Christian, etc.	Mostly centralized in one zone
Restaurant Wait Times	Lively but manageable — plenty of local spots	Often hour-long waits or more
Overall Experience	Relaxed, authentic, affordable — Mardi Gras without the stress	Energetic and iconic — but overwhelming and expensive

If you are up for two on the same day

Try going to the Gulfport parade, another big one that takes place at 5:30 PM on Fat Tuesday. This is the last parade of the season, and it’s a ton of fun. You will have to move fast if you are at the Bay St. Louis or Biloxi parades which start at 1 PM, to attend one of those and the Gulfport parade as well.

We have a friend who loves the parades. Even when her husband is too tired to attend yet one more parade, she goes. We joke about the tons of beads that she has captured at the events.

About those beads

One of the reasons to go to a Mardi Gras parade is to accumulate stuff. KREWS throws out Mardi Gras-themed items and even some food. The idea is to catch the beads in the air. Sometimes they throw out so many beads that they get caught in your hair and all over your face.

One year, I caught a Twinkie, and my wife caught a fancy bra. I thought that beads were nice until the food started appearing. Moon pies were good. At that point, I was hoping for someone to throw out a diet Dr. Pepper.

Mardi Gras is just the start

Christies would love to accommodate everyone from out of the area at one of our vacation rental properties. Unfortunately, we have only so many properties to go around so we suggest that you book in advance for 2025.

Mardi Gras is just the start of the fun you can have along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Try Cruzin-the-Coast or one of the many, many other events that occur during the year. We would love to have you stay with us to try one of our newest properties the Least Tern Nest which accommodates six very comfortably. It’s a house with a yard and parking steps from the beach.

Saint Patricks Day is another date for your calendar if you enjoy parades. Visit this site for more information. Don’t forget to visit our activities page on this site for more things to do while you are visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast.