Krewes – FAQ

All of Pensacola’s Mardi Gras Krewes are in the running every year for King and Queen Priscus.

Through out the Mardi Gras Season, PMG monitors all of the Krewes activities and participation and at the end of the Season the Krewe with the most “checkmarks” wins.  Mind you, we do have some Rules regarding if your Krewe is eligable.  Things like, has your Krewe been chosen within the past 5 years to be King and Queen Priscus.  In order to give everyone a fair shot, once you win King and Queen Priscus you are out of the running for 5 years. Once that is up, your Krewe will get put back in the mix.

Some of the things we check off are:

• Did your Krewe fill out the new Krewe Member forms?
• Did you tell us who you King and Queen Nomination will be?
• Did your Krewe host a ball or event?
• Did your Krewe participate in the All Krewe Food Drive, Pin and Bead Swap, KOL Parade, Milton Parade?
• Did your Krewe bring a float to Kick Off or participate in any PMG events?
• Did anyone in your Krewe interact with our Social Media, etc?

We have a long spreadsheet of various things and it is the “Krewe” that gets chosen for their commitment to the season.

There will always be a King and a Queen Priscus.

If your all-girl group doesn’t have a “Queen,” it’s up to your Krewe to decide who will be your “Royalty.” It can be the president and their partner. The same principle applies to male Krewes. These two individuals will represent your Krewe at various events and enjoy the “Royalty Perks.”

Pensacola Mardi Gras appreciates our Krewes and all that they do not only throughout the Mardi Gras Season, but also also through out the year.   We would like to highlight your Krewe by offering “Perks” to your Royalty.

These Perks can be but are not limited to:

• VIP Passes to PMG events
• Special Recognition at various events
• Commemorative Shashes and Pins specifically for the Krewe Royalty

The Kick Off Celebration is by Invitation only as we are limited to how many Krewe floats we can have on the event route.

If your Krewe is interested in participating with their float please send us an email at pensacolamardigras@gmail.com.  Give us the Krewe name and contact and put Kick Off Celebration Invite Request in the subject line.

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 2^nd Line Procession which will officially start the Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick Off Celebration on the 12^th 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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.

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.

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!

NO. Unfortunately, our insurance does not cover animals of any sort on the parade route.

You can view the parade map here.