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THE
SUMMATIONWeeklyy
This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
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LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!
Vol. 24, No. 1
January 3, 2024
By Morgan Cole
M
ardi Gras is upon us once again, and here in Pensacola we know how to let the good times roll! The Friday after New Year’s Day always signifies the start of Pensacola’s vibrant Mardi Gras season, and it all starts with a festive street party taking over downtown. With deep French roots, it’s no wonder our city was the stomping grounds for some of the first Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States. There’s a lot of hearsay about Pensacola’s history with Mardi Gras and whether or not it was the first celebration in the United States. According to Pensacola Mardi Gras, Pensacola’s Mardi Gras history goes back to 1874 when the Knights of Priscus first formed. At the time, many of our Gulf Coast neighbors, namely New Orleans and Mobile, were already hosting Mardi Gras celebrations. Today, nearly 150 years later, the celebration has grown to become one of the largest in the area, drawing nearly 100,000 spectators to downtown Pensacola each year. The 2024 Mardi Gras season is set to be bigger and better than ever before, with a host of new and returning events happening across the city from now until the end of February. “We are excited to make the 2024 Pensacola Mardi Gras Season presented by Publix bigger and better than ever. With a grant from the Tourism Development Council and Escambia County Commissioners, Pensacola Mardi Gras Foundation is able to really fuel some regional growth for our Mardi Gras in 2024,” Pensacola Mardi Gras Foundation, Inc. (PMG) President Danny Zimmern explained. “We are also putting together a new event, The Pensacola Mardi Gras Mambo, [which] will be a Mardi Gras party in the Pensacola Bay Center including both traditional Mardi Gras anthems, dancing, and includes headlining artist Flo Rida! Flo Rida will have Pensacola’s krewe royalty on stage with him as we combine his hits with our Mardi Gras spirit.” If you’ve never experienced a Mardi Gras celebration in Pensacola, you’re in for a treat because nobody does it quite like we do. Take in all that our local Mardi Gras season has to offer at one or all of these upcoming events.
PENSACOLA MARDI GRAS KICK-OFF ON THE 12TH NIGHT When: January 6 @ 5 pm Where: East Garden District, Downtown Pensacola Start the first night right by attending the 12th Night Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick-Off Celebration in the East Garden District on Jefferson Street, just north of Garden Street, as visitors and locals alike line Seville Quarter to take part in the launch of the 2024 Carnival season. Described as a static parade, this citywide celebration will feature more than 40 parked floats lining the downtown streets starting at 5 pm, while revelers parade among the floats and visit with krewes. Throughout the evening, the stationary floats will be visited by a second-line procession – a traditional New Orleans-style foot parade led by a brass band and followed by casual revelers. At the head of the second line, a priest along with local dignitaries and governmental officials bless the floats and present each Krewe with a customary certificate recognizing their commitment to the Mardi Gras season. The second line starts with revelry at Seville Quarter. The procession ends at the intersection of Jefferson and Government streets where king cake will be served, while supplies last. For complete event details, visit pensacolamardigras.com 28TH ANNUAL CORDOVA MALL BALL When: January 20 Where: Cordova Mall, Pensacola Pensacola Mardi Gras and Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation have joined forces to expand the annual Cordova Mall Ball with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. Dance the night away to live entertainment from Starz Band Live, Mr. Big and the Rhythm Sisters, Category 6 and the Blow House Brass Band. The event will also feature a variety of food samplings from more than 20 area restaurants and specialty cocktails from the signature bars. Guests will enjoy exciting performers around every corner and various entertainment throughout the evening. Tables of eight and general admission tickets are on sale now and start at $80. Attire is masquerade or black tie optional. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit cordovamallballtickets.eventbrite.com.
KIDS AND CRITTERS MARDI GRAS PARADE When: January 20 @ 1:30 pm Where: Pensacola Beach The Kids and Kritters Parade is a Mardi Gras walking procession for people and pets of all ages. The family-friendly event will be held January 20 at the Casino Beach parking lot on Pensacola Beach. Parade registration begins at 1 pm. There will be a $5 registration fee to enter pets into the parade, and no cost for kids. The event will kick-off with a pre-parade dance show at 1:30 pm, with the parade beginning at 2 pm. Participants are invited to design their own mini-floats using wagons or strollers. Prizes will be awarded for the best pet costume and best mini-float. For complete details, visit pensacolabeachmardigras.com. PENSACOLA MARDI GRAS Mambo Featuring Flo Rida When: January 26 @ 7:30 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm) Where: Pensacola Bay Center PMG has announced an exciting new Mardi Gras event — the inaugural Pensacola Mardi Gras Mambo, to be held on January 26 at the Pensacola Bay Center in downtown Pensacola. The PMG Mambo event will provide a full-blown Mardi Gras party atmosphere featuring opening acts by the DeLuna Brass Band, who will perform traditional Mardi Gras and French Quarter street Jazz to include multiple second line processionals featuring Pensacola Mardi Gras Krewes. The New Orleans Ramblers will also provide entertainment for the evening, bringing a New Orleansstyle show with high-energy Mardi Gras anthems. The pre-headliner feature will continue with Mr. Big and the Rhythm Sisters. The event will peak with a special performance by award-winning artist Flo Rida, as he and his band take the stage to perform nostalgic hits like “Low,” “Wild Ones,” “Whistle” and more. Attendees will also enjoy a variety beverages, cocktails and Mardi Grasthemed foods throughout the venue. All ages are welcome, and Mardi Gras krewes are encouraged to dress in krewe attire. Doors open at 6:30 pm. VIP party tickets, reserved seating and general admission tickets are now available online at ticketmaster. com. Visit pensacolamarigras.com for complete event details.
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MILTON MARDI GRAS PARADE When: January 27 @ 4 pm Where: Downtown Milton Join the Emerald Coast Krewe of Airship Pirates for the 6th annual Milton Mardi Gras Parade on January 27 at 4 pm. A free afterparty will be held in downtown Milton at Jernigan’s Landing at 5165 Willing St. immediately following the parade with live music, food trucks, a kids’ zone, local vendors and more. Visit kreweofairshippirates.com for more details.
KREWE OF LAFITTE ILLUMINATED MARDI GRAS PARADE When: February 9 @ 7:30 pm Where: Downtown Pensacola Parade floats are already impressive, but they look even cooler when they’re completely lit up! This family-friendly event kicks off at 7:30 pm and runs until around 9 pm. Crowds can expect to be entertained by marching bands, lighted floats and great throws. The parade begins at Spring and Garden streets and runs down Palafox through downtown Pensacola. For details, visit pensacolamardigras.com.
3RD ANNUAL PENSACOLA PAWDI GRAS When: January 28 from 11 am to 4 pm Where: Downtown Pensacola Hosted by WolfGang Pensacola, this annual pet-friendly event has become one of the most popular Mardi Gras celebrations in town. This year’s Pawdi Gras event will be held January 28 from 11 am to 4 pm along Garden Street, between Tarragona and Palafox Streets in downtown Pensacola. The streets will be filled with adoptable dogs, music, costume contests, vendors, sponsors and tons of community fun. This year’s theme is “Bow Wow Luau,” so get those leis and hula skirts ready for a day of Mardi Gras fun that is all about your pup. The event will continue its tradition of a dog pawrade through downtown Pensacola, with 100 percent of paw-rade registration fees going directly to benefit this year’s benefactor, the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare. The event will feature multiple food trucks, games for dogs and humans and much more. For event details and to register your pup for the paw-rade, visit wolfgangparkandbrews.com or facebook.com/wolfgangparkandbrews. NAVARRE BEACH MARDI GRAS PARADE When: February 3 from 1 to 3 pm Where: Gulf Blvd., Navarre Beach Join the Navarre Krewe of Jesters in celebrating 38 years of Mardi Gras along the Gulf Coast at the Navarre Beach Mardi Gras Parade on February 3 from 1 pm to 3 pm. Floats will enter Gulf Blvd. from Indiana St. and head east toward the traffic light. There will be an official after-parade party held at Andy D’s with music, food and other fun mardi gras festivities. For event details and to view a map of the parade route, visit nkoj.org.
PENSACOLA GRAND MARDI GRAS PARADE When: February 10 from 2 to 7 pm Where: Downtown Pensacola The Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade is annually the largest and most extravagant parade in Pensacola. The parade features a number of Krewes from the area, local organizations, businesses and everything from marching bands to Scout groups. Each year, more than 6,000 individuals participate in the parade, drawing tens of thousands of spectators. The Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade begins at 2 pm and continues until around 6 pm. The parade runs along Palafox and Garden streets in historic downtown Pensacola. For details and to view a map of the parade route, visit pensacolamardigras.com. KREWE OF WRECKS MARDI GRAS PARADE When: February 11 from 2 to 4 pm Where: Pensacola Beach Enjoy a Mardi Gras parade with an island atmosphere at the Krewe of Wrecks Parade on Pensacola Beach on February 11 from 2 to 4 pm. This annual parade serves as the last parade of the season and features grand floats, tons of beads, candy and doubloons. Multiple after-parties will be hosted at different venues on Pensacola Beach, but the biggest is held on the boardwalk, at the shell, where paradegoers and krewe members wait for the judge’s results and trophies are awarded. The after-party will also feature live music, dancing and more. The parade route begins at Avenida 10 and Via DeLuna, runs west and disbands at the Gulfside Pavilion in the Casino Beach parking lot. For parade details, visit pensacolabeachmardigras.com. ■
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