KICK OFF CELEBRATION / 12TH NIGHT – FAQ
12th Night in Christianity refers to the 12th Night of Christmas, which is also the Epiphany. This is the last night of Christmas and transitions from celebrating Christmas to the Mardi Gras Season which ends on Fat Tuesday. The Epiphany is always on January 6th, which is always 12 days after Christmas. This is the traditional day to eat King Cake.
Pensacola has its own Mardi Gras Kick Off. Floats and their Krewes will come along with any revelers that want to join in the fun. All Floats and their Krewes will be blessed by the Father, and their Mardi Gras season on feasting and imbirery will be kicked off with blessings and hope for a fun Mardi Gras season.
The Kick Off Celebration takes place in Downtown Pensacola. Utilizing historic Palafox Street, Romana, Intendencia, Zarragossa and Jefferson for floats to park and for spectators to have a chance to get up close and personal with the floats and the Krewes.
The Kick Off Celebration is by Invitation only as we are limited to how many Krewe floats we can have on the event route.
Send an email to pensacolamardigras@gmail.com. Let Amy and Danny know that your Krewe would like to participate in the Kick Off with your float. Please make sure you have a contact number so that Amy or Danny can give you call and talk about it.
Nothing, but space is very limited.
The Town Crier will announce and individual proclamation for each participating Krewe. The King’s and Queen’s of the Mardi Gras Krewes will reign over a 2nd Line Procession which will officially start the Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick Off Celebration on the 12th Night. The 2nd line band will escort a walking procession which is scheduled to include: Father Nicholas Schummn, to bestow blessing, along with the Mayor and amongst the Krewes and their floats. The processional and blessing will end at the official King Cake table. The reigning King and Queen Priscus will cut the Official King Cake marking the official opening of the Mardi Gras Season.
Yes. At the end of the 2nd Line Procession there will be an official cutting of the cake which will signify the official beginning of Pensacola’s Mardi Gras Season.
Scheduled Times are: ~ 5:00pm Palafox will be clear of vehicle traffic ~ 5:30 pm Floats and all media will be lined up and parked on Palafox Street. ~ 7:00 pm Merriment starts ~ 8:00pm Ceremony with Father Gray and the Mayor’s will start ~ 8:20pm 2nd Line Procession and Blessing of the Fleet will start ~ 9:30 Incoming Mayor to perform official toast ~ 9:35 Presiding Mayor to slice into the season’s first King Cake ~ 9:40 Grab your umbrellas and/or hanky and get ready to 2nd line the Pensacola Mardi Gras season in.
Yes sort of, only at this party the parade is going to go by the floats rather than the floats going by the public. It is a chance to hang out and party with your Krewe and other Krewe’s, since your float will never move.
Rain or Shine the event will take place. Besides, you should already have your umbrella handy for the 2nd line.
There are various levels of sponsorships. Just contact Pensacola Mardi Gras by telephone 850-436-7638 or email pensacolamardigras@gmail.com and we will be more than happy to send you information.
Yes. If you wish to throw a few trinkets to the crowd please feel free, but remember that the City has a “throw” ordinance and that must be abided by.
Around Midnight. Remember, no-one can ride on the floats, so they can only be pulled out empty.
Yes! Just contact Danny or Amy at the Mardi Gras office and they will give you the specific details to officially be in the procession. Anyone can be unofficially in it.
Pensacola Mardi Gras, Inc will invoke the specialty center for that night so the open container law will be waived only on Palafox Street between Garden and Government Streets.
GRAND PARADE FAQ
Fill out the application(s), send in your money, and get your group together.
Your Krewe CAN NOT throw items prior to the barricades. If you do this it will entice the spectators to filter into the line up area without barricade protection and could cause harm to someone. DO NOT throw prior to your float turning onto Garden Street.
Parade applications are due by February 6th, 2015.
A unit consists of 1 vehicle pulling 1 trailer and/or no more than 20 walkers.
If you are unsure of the driver and have a couple of driver’s that could drive the vehicle, please have those drivers fill out and sign the vehicle application. Send in those applications along with a clear copy of their driver’s license and make a note. Please note that on Parade day if the information that you have provided us does not correspond with the driver that is driving the vehicle, we can and will pull you out of the parade and you will not receive a refund.
Vehicle insurance is required. No execptions. If you are using a personal vehicle, then a copy of your vehicle insurance is required. If you are using a tow truck company, then a copy of their insurance is required with Pensacola Mardi Gras, Inc. and the City of Pensacola as additional insurers.
Mr. Roy Welch with Quality Specialty Products will sell you a trailer, you can contact him at 850-469-0902 or visit him at 100 Massachusetts Avenue, Pensacola, Florida 32505.
Over the years, Mr. Kip Dingler has been offering float rentals. For more information please contact him at 478-477-3280 or 478-256-8944 or check out his website at www.kipdingler.com.
The Florida Department of Transportation has a requirement for vehicles on the City streets. Should the float be wider than 8 feet, you will need a special permit from the FDOT to operate on the State roadway system. Also the height should not be greater than 13 feet, so as not to interfere with traffic signals.
The City of Pensacola has an ordinance regarding the items that can be thrown to the crowd. The item must weigh 2 oz. or less. For more information go to www.ci.pensacola.fl.us and click Ordinance. The Ordinance number for the throws is (Code 1986, § 8-1-17; Ord. No. 19-90, § 1, 3-22-1990).
The Parade will go on. There will be no refund given if you or Krewe decides not to join on Parade day.
There are various levels of sponsorships. Just contact Pensacola Mardi Gras by telephone 850-436-7638 or email pensacolamardigras@gmail.com and we will be more than happy to send you information.
Yes. Anyone and everyone is welcome to have their event posted on our website. Just email us at executivedirector@pensacolamardigras.com with the event information.
T-shirts are always available Parade day! If you can’t wait, then please just call the office 850-436-7638 and we will make arrangements to get them to you sooner!
We can always use a few good volunteers! Contact us here.
NO. Unfortunately, our insurance does not cover animals of any sort on the parade route.
You can view the parade map here.
On the Southwest corner of Chase and Palafox. You can view the map here.
There are some business along the parade route that will allow community groups like the Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts and Schools to charge a fee for people to park in their lot. Click Here for the complete DIB parking map.
