A Mardi Gras experience--Ocean Springs celebrates!

We been absent from cyberspace for a few days because we’ve been busy with life here on earth. Time for catch-up!

Saturday’s parade in Ocean Springs was great fun.  It’s the first Gulf Coast parade of the Mardi Gras season (period beginning with Epiphany and ending the day before Ash Wednesday when the Lenten fast begins). This parade has been around 36 years and prides itself on being a family-oriented event—no exposing of body parts that really should remain private!

This young dad fashioned a home-made viewing stand for his girls…clever!

We found a good place to park to view the parade near the starting point and walked a bit to find a good spot.  The people are incredibly friendly. Every few feet someone stopped us to ask if they could pet Maggie and give her beads.  Several invited us to sit with them and ultimately we came to rest on the lawn of a wonderfully welcoming woman.  Her son, Brock, and daughter-in-law and little grandson were there—she told us Brock was returning to Afghanistan on Sunday (yesterday), so it was a special afternoon. She asked if we would pray for his safe return and ask friends and relatives to do the same—of course we agreed.

This young dad made over Maggie and enjoyed the parade with his parents and family--you'd never know that he would be heading back to Afghanistan the next day.

This girl was all decked-out!

The parade itself was a real community event—some floats were elaborate, others just pick-ups or jeeps decked out in traditional greens, purples, blues and yellows. Several marching bands provided live music, and many of the floats had speakers. It was a fun and very interactive event.  People riding on the floats tossed everything from beads and candy to religious messages printed on slips of paper.

This fellow was tossing candy to parade goers.



Everyone has fun and colors are fabulous!



Beads, little balls, candy, whoopie pies--everything you can imagine!

We’ll miss the actual Mardi Gras when the official parties happen (March 8)—our friend Donna told us that “king cakes” are a must. They are a round donut-shaped cake with a small plastic baby baked inside, representing Jesus.  Whoever gets the slice with baby Jesus in it has to do the next Mardi Gras party.Here's how to have your own party!