PANAMA CITY — Mardi Gras festivities kicked off for Panama City Friday afternoon with the Kids and Pet Parade.
Families were on the sidewalks waving their hands in hopes of catching beads and on the floats throwing out goodies to those who lined Beck Avenue and 11th Street in St. Andrews for the event.
The theme for this year’s Mardi Gras is “Under the Sea,“ according to 2015 St. Andrews Mardi Gras Queen Darlene Tate. The floats in Friday’s parade demonstrated this theme, with the Brewe Krewe float having a pirate theme. Other floats drove down the street blasting popular songs like “Turn Down For What.”
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Vendors were out for the event. One Panama City police officer playfully threw a bead at another officer, who then handed the beads over to a kid. Children eagerly caught beads and proudly wore them. Trucks for Centennial Bank and the Panama City Fire Department chugged down the street.
“We’re just going to throw a lot of beads,” said Tate of what to expect for the Mardi Gras festivities.
Lots of beads is indeed what Josie — who did not wish to provide her last name — said she expected from Friday’s parade. Her son was in the parade, she said while was waiting on the sidewalk for the parade to start.
Leslie Fuqua, who walked in the Pet Parade, said she was expecting the event to be lots of fun. Dan Fuqua joined Leslie as they pulled a wagon in the parade, with their dog dressed in a blue bow-like costume. The Pet Parade raised money for the Humane Society of Bay County.
Tate said that on Saturday, there would be over 40 floats, making this the biggest annual St. Andrews Mardi Gras parade ever. Tate described the parade as family-friendly, a description that rang true at Friday’s event.
“Come on down, bring the whole family,” she said.
WANT TO GO?
- What: Mardi Gras parade
- When: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Parade starts at 2 p.m.
- Where: Downtown St. Andrews
- Cost: Free
PARKING
- No parking on Beck Avenue south of 15th Street and no parking on 11th Street west of Flower Avenue between 1-6 p.m. Also, no parking on Beck or Bayview avenues south of 12th Street between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m.
- According to a news release from the Panama City Police Department, any vehicles left unattended or parked on these roadways after the specified times will be towed at the owner’s expense. If your vehicle has been towed, call 850-872-3112 for towing information.