BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (WLOX) - Hundreds of people lined the streets of Bay St. Louis as the Krewe of Nereids Mardi Gras Parade rolled down Highway 90, filling the air with purple, green and yellow beads.
More than 150 floats in different themes and sizes fired up the crowds during the 58th annual parade. The Krewe of Nereids is the oldest krewe on the Coast, with more than 50 women representing mermaid sisters. In mythology, Nereids are female spirits of the sea.
“I tell you, this is a lot of fun, a lot of great people, a lot of great times,” Sean Hughes, a Long Beach resident who attended with his dog Magnolia, said.
Hughes said bringing his pet to the parade has become an annual tradition.
“She absolutely loves this time of year,” Hughes said. “The buildup to this time of the year it’s just a great time for everyone to come out, be as one and have a great time together.”
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Pass Christian resident Amber Ladner said the parade grows each year with more floats and participants.
“This is the only parade I bring my kids to every year,” Ladner said. “It feels safe, it’s family-friendly.”
Celeste Hobgood, another paradegoer, said she attends annually with her family and was able to bring friends this year.
“We come here every year,” she said.
Organizers say they do not plan to stop the annual celebration anytime soon.
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During the parade, shots were fired near the intersection of Highway 90 and Nicholson Avenue. No one was injured, and the parade continued normally.
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