Mardi Gras on the Emerald Coast

Laissez les bon temps roulez!  Mardi Gras is coming up, and although Fat Tuesday isn’t happening until March 8th, there are plenty of upcoming celebrations happening all along the Gulf Coast.  Bring out your masks, boas and beads and join us for these unforgettable festivities!

Panama City will play host to the St. Andrew’s Mardi Gras Festival on February 25th & 26th.  There will be a Kids Parade on the 25th down Beck Avenue, and the 26th will feature the Annual Grand Parade along the same route.  In addition to the parades, there will be a two-day festival in the Oaks by the Bay Park (1000 Beck Ave., Panama City, FL, 32401) with entertainment for the entire family.

HarborWalk Village on the Destin Harbor (10 Harbor Blvd., Destin, FL, 32541) is bringing us two celebrations: Enjoy the parade on February 26th with beads, live music, and traditional New Orleans revelry, or join them March 8th for the Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Bash featuring free red beans and rice, performers and live music that’s sure to be a good time!

The islanders of Pensacola Beach definitely know how to have a good time, as they are also featuring two parades.  February 26th will host the Kids & Kritters Parade ($5 fee for your furry friend to participate) from the Beach Fire Station (901 Via de Luna Dr., Pensacola Beach, 32561) to the Pensacola Beach Community Church.  Check out the costumed kids and pets in this fun and furry parade.  March 6th will feature the big celebration, the Krewe of Wrecks, down Via de Luna Drive at 12pm.

The Gulf Shores area is the closest to Mobile (the true birthplace of Mardi Gras), and they are having five separate parades!  March 4th is the Mystical Order of Mirams Mardi Gras Parade in Orange Beach at 6:30pm from Wintzell’s Oyster House (24131 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL, 36561) ending at Rite Aid.  The Mystics of Pleasure Mardi Gras Parade is March 5th in Orange Beach at 6:30pm from Live Bait (24281 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL, 36561) ending at the Perdido Beach Resort.  March 8th is Fat Tuesday, so there are three parades to choose from: the Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade at 10am along Highway 59, the Orange Beach Mardi Gras Parade at 1:30pm beginning at Wintzell’s, and LuLu’s 7th Anniversary Celebration and Boat Parade, an all-day event at LuLu’s at Homeport (200 E 25th Ave., Gulf Shores, AL, 36542)

The Emerald Coast is proof that you don’t need to be in New Orleans or Mobile to celebrate Mardi Gras in style.  Come join us in one of many properties all along the sandy white beaches, and be ready for lots of beads (and maybe a Moon Pie, too).

Pensacola Double Bridge Run February 5th

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida
 
Get ready for a fun run with some of the most amazing views in Northwest Florida.  Pensacola’s Double Bridge Run will take place on February 5th.  There are two events for the run: a 15K beginning at 7:00am and a 5K at 8:00am.  Join over 3,000 participants as you cross over the Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Sound.
 
The 15K will start downtown in front of Plaza de Luna (900 S. Palafox St., Pensacola, FL), deep in the historic district of Pensacola, at 7:00am.  The race route takes you north on Palafox Street, east on Garden Street, south on Alcaniz Street through downtown, then east on Bayfront Parkway, across Pensacola Bay Bridge to Gulf Breeze, and a final turn to Bob Sikes Bridge taking you into Pensacola Beach.  The 9.3 mile USATF certified course does have a minimum pace requirement; you are required to keep within a 14-minute mile, which keeps a fierce competition.  A fresh addition to the 2011 run is that the 15K will have a corral start. There is a cap of 2,500 runners for this category.  The 5K run/walk begins in Gulf Breeze at the Gulf Breeze Schools (649 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., Gulf Breeze, FL) onto Bob Sikes Bridge, entering Pensacola Beach.  There is a max of 1,200 runners and 300 walkers in this event.
 
In the 15K division, there are awards for the first three overall finishers for men and women: $1,250 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd place, and $250 for 3rd place.  There will also be awards for the top three masters, grand masters, and senior grand masters.  Prizes for the 5K go five deep to men and women in 0-39 or 40+ age divisions. 

You can register for the Double Bridge Run online at www.active.com until February 1st with a registration fee of $35.  If you miss this deadline, they are holding a Race Expo at the Pensacola Beach Hilton on February 3rd and 4th.  There will be no race-day registration, so be sure to register now!  If you are looking for accommodations for the event, check out our beautiful properties in Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach.