Mississippi Carnival
The Gulf Coast has a rich Mardi Gras tradition, with
certain aspects regarded to be as old as or even older than their New Orleans
counterparts.
Hardly an hour out from New Orleans, the chaos of
Super Bowl weekend gave way to the glimmering old resort lights of Biloxi. While
the feel and traditions of Carnival persist far from New Orleans, the air of
the Louisiana swamp gives way to a crisp ocean air befitting a parade of
mermaids.
Just as with some of the largest bal masques of the
New Orleans krewes, the Krewe of Nereids' ball was a fully-choreographed
presentation with spectators stretching up to the top rows of the Mississippi
Coast Coliseum. Ceremonies began with narration of the mermaids of 2024's
parade theme "Surf's Up," handing the reins over to the broad and
entertaining 2025 theme "Nereids Loves a Parade." Centered around
different occasions for celebration all year-round, the theme is malleable and recalls
past great themes in New Orleans, as well.
And with the theme as a jumping off point, Nereids
puts on an organized show. Announcing every aspect of the theming were young
"newsboys," parading banners for the crowd to introduce each maid's
motif and her accompanying song and dance numbers. The costumed maids
representing the parades' themes processed through the Coliseum on
fully-decorated floats, creating a unique ball presentation that emulated
elements of the parade itself while leaving plenty of room not just for the
court presentations, but individual performances as well. Set beneath the
mermaid emblem of the krewe and a tableau tapestry depicting Bourbon Street
revelry, Nereids really puts its own sense of individual performance on as a
central element of the ball, with individual song and dance numbers integrating
friends and family of the krewe, and, of course, the members themselves taking
the show. Tributes were given to Oktoberfest, St. Patrick's Day, Thanksgiving,
and a Fourth of July featuring one of the most organized servicemember tributes
this
side of the Legion of Mars. Band and color guard performances
were provided by Bay St. Louis High School, along with a special dance
performance inspired by Fiddler on the Roof. Husbands and fathers got
into the act at several points no less, adding their own pastiches reminiscent
of everything from Frank Sinatra to the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.
The Easter Bunny came for the Easter parade, along with, of course, Mississippi
belles.
The celebrations concluded with the traditional
meeting of the Royal Court, in which the different maids presented themselves
Queen Doris, whose identity is kept within the etiquette of Carnival secrecy,
along with her ceremonial consort King Nereus. Concluding the on-floor
ceremonies with a royal tour of the ball floor, the ball concluded into an
organized celebration for the parade and a large afterparty at the Coliseum's
adjoining hall. With private dining and musical entertainment provided by The
Troy Laz Band, things felt ecstatic in preparation for a very successful parade
route just over the seaside horizon.
The Krewe of Nereids parade is set to parade on
Sunday, February 23, beginning at 12 p.m. on Highway 90 in Bay St. Louis,
Mississippi. For more information, see the Krewe of Nereids
website.
