Northwest Florida Celebrates Mardi Gras

  Saturday, February 9, is the date to mark on your calendar for the Cajun-accented Mardi Gras celebration in Perdido Key. The family-friendly fun starts at noon at Hub Stacey’s at the Point restaurant (5851 Galvez Road) with the “Magic of Mardi Gras” boat parade. It’s followed by a Cajun cookoff, live music, and a spectacular fireworks display. Admission is free. To learn more, click on visitperdido.com/mardi-gras. Downtown Pensacola’s biggest Mardi Gras parade also takes place on February 9, with most of the local krewes participating. Parade time for the venerable event, which dates back to 1874 and rivals Mobile’s and Biloxi’s parades in size, is 2 p.m. The parade begins at Spring and Garden, continues to Palafox and Wright, then down, to end at Palafox and Main. There’s an after-parade party in Seville Square. Admission is free. For details, visit pensacolamardigras.com. February 10 is the day for Baytowne Wharf’s 10th annual Mardi Gras parade starring costumed canines and their humans. This year’s parade features a sporty theme - “Tail-Gates and Touchdowns: Paw-ty in the Endzone!”. There is no charge to watch the parade, but participants’ humans must pay a $5 to $10 fee. All proceeds go to Destin’s Alaqua Animal Refuge. Parade time is 2 p.m. For more information, go to www.sandestin.com/events .

Published on Thursday, January 31, 2013