BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) — The annual Blessing of the Fleet and Shrimp Festival returns to Biloxi this weekend, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1929.
Alley Kovacevich, the 2025 Shrimp Queen, said the tradition is personal to her family.
“My family has been in the shrimp industry for generations, as far back as my great-grandfather on my dad’s side,” Kovacevich said. “I’ve had three cousins who’ve been Shrimp Queen, and all my aunts and uncles have worked in shrimp factories over the years.”
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Kovacevich will now pass her crown to the next queen.
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“Bittersweet,” she said. “I am very excited for the upcoming queen, whoever she might be. I’m very excited for her, but it will be bittersweet giving my crown away.”
Events begin on Thursday with the Mass of the Deceased Fishermen at 6 p.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church in Biloxi.
Saturday includes the Blessing Mass at 5 p.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church and the coronation of the 2026 Shrimp King and Queen at 7 p.m. at the Frank Gruich Community Center.
Sunday features the Shrimp Festival at Harrah’s Great Lawn from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Blessing of the Fleet Boat Parade is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
Kovacevich said her favorite part is the blessing.
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“I love watching every boat come through and be blessed by the priests,” she said. “That’s definitely by far my favorite part, and the dropping of the wreath.”
The ceremonial blessing, given by a local Catholic priest, marks the official beginning of shrimping season. During the event, a wreath is also dropped into the Sound in memory of shrimpers who have died at sea.
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