On Saturday, February 4, 2023, Ocean Springs will kick off the Mardi Gras Parade Season with the Ocean Springs Elks and Krewe Unique parade. The Elks parade will roll at 1:00 p.m., with Krewe Unique following immediately.
Beginning at 9:00 a.m., Front Beach Drive (from Washington Avenue to Hillandale Avenue) will become one-way westbound so registered floats can begin staging for the parade.
The parade will roll on Front Beach Drive, turn east on Porter Avenue, north on Washington Avenue, then east on Government Street. The parade will end on Government Street at the Ocean Springs Upper Elementary Parking Lot.
“No Parking After 3:30 am” signs will be placed along the Front Beach and the parade route on the evening of Friday, February 3 to prepare for the parade.
Barricades will be placed starting at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. Any vehicles remaining in the parade route that is deemed a hindrance to the parade will be towed immediately. The parade route between Jackson Avenue and Pine Street, along with side streets, will be barricaded. There will be no parking on the city right-of-way on Government Street or Porter Avenue. The barricades will be removed after the parade passes. Anyone who crosses the barricades will be apprehended by the Ocean Springs Police Department.
The following streets will be closed:
-Porter Avenue (from the Ocean Springs Yacht Club to Washington Ave.)
-Washington Avenue (from Porter Ave. to Government Street)
-Government Street (from Washington Ave. to Holcomb Blvd.)
-All side streets along the entire parade route.
Southbound traffic on Washington Avenue from US-90 will be re-routed via Desoto Street. Roads will reopen at the discretion of the OSPD. As always, it is at the discretion of local law enforcement as to whether it is in the interest of the public’s safety to add or remove a barricade.
“The Ocean Springs Day parades are a fantastic family event for everyone to enjoy,” says Mayor Kenny Holloway. “I encourage everyone to have a great time but also be alert, responsible, and safe.”
Sign up for CodeRed and follow the City of Ocean Springs on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more updates.