The Krewe of Blues’ annual Pin & Bead Festival has become a beloved opportunity for Pensacola’s Mardi Gras krewes to gather in fun and fellowship for friendly competition and charitable efforts. So it’s no wonder that so many braved a bitterly cold January morning to visit Olde Seville Square in historic downtown Pensacola to be a part of the festivities.
The host krewe has turned what was once a simple afternoon gathering into a daylong festival taking up the entire park, with each participating krewe setting up booths with games and/or raffles to raise money for its charitable mission, as well as coming together to support the Krewe of Blues’ annual diaper drive and participating in baby shower-style games for bragging rights during the Krewe Wars.
Along with the Krewe of Blues, participating krewes at this years festival included the Krewe of Daisy Dukes, Le Krewe du Brew, Krewe of Seville, Krewe of SWAT, Krewe du Ya Ya, Krewe of Gatsby Girls, Krewe of Mystic Mafia, Krewe of Airship Pirates, Krewe de Los Muertos and Krewe of Parrotheads.
Reporting by Julio Diaz. Photos by Phil Bailey.
