USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
SUMMATIONWeeklyy
This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T Vol. 23, No. 7
February 15, 2023
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
The Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras parade draws in tens of thousands of people and is one of the biggest parades of the year. This parade has hundreds of floats and tends to last about four hours, so be sure to arrive early to claim your spot. For more parade details, visit pensacolamardigras.com.
Tuesday Celebration February 21 at Seville Quarter in downtown Pensacola. This Big Easy-style Mardi Gras festival will feature a crawfish boil, Cajun food trucks, king cake and beignets, musical entertainment and dancing. The event will kick-off at 11 am with The Priscus Celebration, a longtime Pensacola Mardi Gras tradition. The celebration will include a Jazz Royalty Brunch with a special Mardi Gras-themed menu, a bloody mary bar and famous crawfish boil. Local Mardi Gras krewes will transform each of the rooms inside the historic complex into the French Quarter for the day. At 2 pm, Krewe Royalty and elected officials will be on-hand to join in the festivities as Seville Quarter is taken over and turned into the French Quarter. At 5 pm, Pensacola Mardi Gras krewes will come together for a celebration featuring live entertainment. The coronation of a new King and Queen of Priscus for 2024 will also take place, along with a special Mardi Gras Drag Show and awards ceremony presented by President of Pensacola Mardi Gras, Danny Zimmern. For tickets and more information, visit pensacolamardigras.com. ■
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL! PENSACOLA MARDI GRAS PARADES, PARTIES & BALLS
By Morgan Cole
I
t’s Mardi Gras season once again, and while New Orleans is typically considered to be the epicenter of this festive pre-Lenten celebration, our neighbors in Mobile were actually the first to host Mardi Gras (aka “Fat Tuesday”) in the United States. The tradition originally dates back to the French settlers who founded Mobile in 1702, a decade and a half before New Orleans existed. Today, Mobile’s Mardi Gras season, the oldest in America, stretches for months, kicking off in November with festive balls, krewe events and more. community saw all the fun being had in Mobile, and decided to host their own Mardi Gras. Now, more than a century later, the Pensacola Mardi Gras Grand Parade serves as one of the largest celebrations along the Gulf Coast, drawing some 6,000 participants and nearly 100,000 spectators each year. The Pensacola Mardi Gras season officially kicks off on the first Saturday in January with a festive street party hosted along downtown’s historic Palafox Place, complete with a reverse parade and plenty of colorful krewe members. The season runs through Fat Tuesday, with tons of festive celebrations and parades occurring
non-stop throughout the city. “The energy among Pensacola’s 90 plus Mardi Gras Krewes is higher than ever. That energy is translating into a growing community that is energized and excited for the 2023 Mardi Gras Season,” Pensacola Mardi Gras President Danny Zimmern said. “Balls, parades and special events centered around Mardi Gras have had record attendance so far this year and we can’t wait to celebrate the rest of the 2023 season.” Unlike many other parades, our local Mardi Gras boasts a more welcoming and familyfriendly environment. While Pensacola Mardi Gras Inc. acts as a central hub and sponsors some of the season’s biggest events, it takes a village to make Mardi Gras happen. Pensacola is home to more than 100 krewes — social groups that form to celebrate the season — that help organize and participate in the annual parades. Pensacola’s Mardi Gras krewes have membership bases ranging from a handful of people to hundreds. A number of local businesses and organizations also support and take part in the Mardi Gras festivities by sponsoring, volunteering or hosting events throughout the season. So, for those who thought Mardi Gras was something that was only celebrated in
New Orleans, you’re in for a treat because nobody does Mardi Gras quite like we do in Pensacola. If you’re looking to indulge in some fantastically fun revelry this Mardi Gras, there’s no shortage of options in the Pensacola area. We’ve brought you details on upcoming parades, balls and events happening throughout the Pensacola area to help you get the most out of this year’s Mardi Gras celebration. PENSACOLA PARADES & EVENTS Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Mardi Gras Parade When: February 17 @ 7:30 pm Where: Downtown Pensacola The first parade is the Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Mardi Gras Parade. This parade is extra special since it is hosted at night which allows the floats to be lit up. This family-friendly event starts at 7:30 pm and goes on for a few hours. Paradegoers can catch candy, beads, toys, stuffed animals, bouncy balls, local swag and, of course, lots of Moon Pies. For more information, visit pensacolamardigras.com. Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade When: February 18 @ 2 pm Where: Downtown Pensacola
Pensacola Beach Krewe of Wrecks Parade When: Februar y 19 from 2 pm to 11:30 pm Where: Pensacola Beach The Krewe of Wrecks Parade serves as the last parade of the season and it’s held on Pensacola Beach. This is a smaller-scale parade that first happened in 1980. The parade starts off at Avenida 10 and Via de Luna, runs west and then disbands at the Gulfside Pavilion in the Casino Beach parking lot. The parade concludes with a series of after-parties where judges will award trophies. Visit pensacolabeachmardigras.com for complete parade details. Pensacola Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday Celebration When: Februar y 21 from 11 am to midnight Where: Seville Quarter, downtown Pensacola Pensacola Mardi Gras, local Krewes and Seville Quarter have teamed up to host a special French Quarter Fat
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