GCCA Mardi Gras parade fills streets of downtown Biloxi

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - With bands marching, beads flying and royalty floating, the Gulf Coast Carnival Association was back in full swing on Fat Tuesday.

The Coast’s longest-running parade took over the streets of downtown Biloxi at 1 p.m.

Isabella Landry from Slidell, Louisiana was near the front of the route and said she travels about one hour to catch the parade every year.

“I’m 75 years old, and I love Mardi Gras,” she told WLOX. “We’re gonna boogie down.”

It’s also tradition for Kevin Montilla, Kylie Carello and Ellie Johnson from Ocean Springs.

“I love it,” Carello said. “It’s always fun to see everybody here together, and it’s just a good time to celebrate with everybody.”

Each year, Ansleigh and Trevor Burdette from Biloxi park their RV along the route.

This year, they were ready and set out about two days ahead of showtime.

“It’s just a way to kind of relax, get away from everything for a little bit,” Trevor said. “Not many places stop the day too; it’s a Tuesday.”

“My favorite thing is to catch the beads and stuff. I collect them,” Braxtyn from St. Martin said.

New goodies during the Mardi Gras spectacle only contributed to their stash.

“Me and my brother have millions of beads,” Braxtyn’s brother Beckett said.

GCCA’s first parade happened over a century ago with only 17 floats.

On Tuesday, more than 100 units set off from Main Street.

Carrying the legacy, Bobby Knesal and Madison Warren reigned as King D’Iberville and Queen Ixolib.

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