BAT ST. LOUIS, Miss. (WLOX) - For more than a decade, the streets of Bay St. Louis have been filled with the swashbuckling pirate spirit for the Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse Parade.
Captain Longbeard Chad Barnett and Lady Claiborne Tracey Downey have been with the Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse since its beginning. With the packed streets and cheers of the crowd, it’s a one-of-a-kind gem in the Bay.
“11 years. It started out small, and as the krewe has grown, so has the parade, Barnett said.”
“With it being the only parade for Lundi Gras on the Gulf Coast, it’s the place to come,” Downey said.
Instead of massive floats, the parade featured dozens of golf carts decked out in pirate attire, bringing the party up close and personal.
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“It seems more personal being able to like see people and be so close to them, so that’s why this is one of my favorite parades,” Grand Marshall Caroline Davis explained.
For those who call Bay St. Louis home, it’s a party that unfolds right in their backyard.
“It’s just fun when everybody can come together in peace, and be able to enjoy Mardi Gras here in your hometown,” Candace Labat said. ”You don’t have to go far.”
For those who do go far, it’s the experience of a lifetime.
“We love it here, but what got us here was the cold, snow and freezing weather in Vermont. This is the place to be,” Kathy Willis said.
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As the krewe celebrates ahead of Fat Tuesday, the celebration is welcoming to everyone.
“It’s just fun; it’s a family-oriented parade where everybody can come and have a great time,” Barnett said.
The krewe gave out awards to the best overall golf cart and best costume, with prizes awarded to the winners.
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