Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick Off on the 12th Night

Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick Off on the 12th Night

Presented By: Wind Creek Casino & Hotel, Catalyst Real Estate Development & The East Garden District

2025 Pensacola’s Mardi 12th Night Celebration

The 2025 Mardi Gras season marks the 14th year for the Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick-Off Celebration, and man, what a great event this has become!

When we started this event 14 years ago, we did not know if this event would even be something that Pensacola would rally behind, but our Krewes and community sure showed us!   It was a cold and misty Thursday night. We started off with 10 floats and a couple of radio station vans sprinkled throughout a couple of blocks of South Palafox Street. In 2019 we hosted 40 floats and had to expand our footprint to include Government and Zarragossa Street!

Over the years, the day of the event had to change from being on the actual Twelfth Night (January 6) to a Friday or Saturday.  Because we could no longer hold it on the actual Twelfth Night, we had to adapt the name and changed it to the Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick-Off Celebration.

 

The New Orleans Ramblers

The New Orleans Ramblers will once again lead our processionals and Second Line around Jefferson Street and Government Street.  Sounds of traditional New Orleans music and second line will help us Kick-Off Pensacola’s Mardi Gras season.

Of course, there will be plenty of 2nd line band marches, including the classic 2nd line escort of the costumed Krewes to the where they will be blessed by Father, and local dignitaries including elected and governmental officials.  Each Krewe that is blessed will receive the customary certificate recognizing their commitment to the Mardi Gras spirit and authorizing their blessed participation in the 2024 season.

King Cake

Traditionally, Mardi Gras and the Twelfth Night start with King Cake.  Inside Seville Quarter, Father Nick Schumm will bless the community around 9:00 p.m., and there will be King Cake from our special King Cake sponsor (watch our FB page for the big announcement).  King Cake will be free for everyone, while it lasts that is…

More event DETAILS (the fine print):

The official Kick-Off will begin inside Seville Quarter at 5 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 6th.  Floats will be parked on Jefferson St. south of Romana St. all the way down to Zarragossa, and Government Street between Palafox and Tarragona Streets.

After opening ceremonies with the Royal Processional, a Second Line Processional of Royalty will walk the float route and bless the floats.