Livin' large: Celebrate Mardi Gras before Fat Tuesday

PANAMA CITY BEACH — A decadent mix of fun the weekend before Fat Tuesday, the Panama City Beach Mardi Gras & Music Festival on Friday and Saturday features family-friendly parades with the Krewe of Dominique Youx, music, food, costume contests and fireworks. 

Crowds of 50,000 are expected to come out for the carnival-style celebration at Pier Park, a lively backdrop with shopping and restaurants. 

The Krewe of Dominique Youx's Royalty Float tours begin at 4 p.m. Friday. Children and adults are invited to come meet the new king and queen in the Royalty Tent and tour a float. Get pictures with Captain Dominique Youx the 31st King John Hutt and his Queen, Tampa Brooks, who recently were crowned during the Krewe of Dominique Youx's annual Mardi Gras Ball. The 2017 Pirates and Princesses of their court include Larry Mason and Beth Henry, Jimmie Otwell and Kim Lovchuk, Walter Krause and Lindsay Wright, Tim Moriarty and Kitty Trubia, Mike Morrow and Lori Bates, and Steve Caskey and Madge Smith.

The royal court joins a long tradition in Bay County, started in 1986 when Errol Legasse and the late Jerry Castardo formed the Krewe of Dominique Youx with a group of local residents, so they could get involved in the Mardi Gras excitement. The krewe, which originally began parading in golf carts in Bay Point, has grown to include 185 members. While the men are certified members, they couldn't do it without the support and involvement by their wives and significant others.

John Dunaway, past president and Dominique Youx the 27th, has been with the Krewe "since its first parade in St. Andrews, 20 years ago this year."

The Krewe of Dominique Youx still participates in the Krewe of St. Andrews Parade, where they brought out floats — including the royalty — for last weekend's celebration, but their move to the beach has brought in not just local but a lot of more people from other areas. Arms of the Tourist and Development Council of Bay County (TDC) and the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) took over management and promotion of the event for the Krewe of Dominique Youx three years ago at their request. Charter sponsors also include Simon Properties, owners of Pier Park, the City of Panama City Beach and Regions Bank. 

The Krewe pays for their own costumes, equipment and floats. 

"We just do the parades," Dunaway added. "We also have the Second Line Parade, and the public can walk with us and hand out beads."

The walking parade has featured extra treats, such as swords, umbrellas and footballs.

The Krewe of Dominique Youx currently has nine floats that will be in this weekend's parade.

"We try to enhance the floats every year," said President Steve Crow, whose wife, First Lady Nancy Crow, will be on the mermaid float, Jewels of the Sea. 

Float captain of the Landshark, Crow sported a Landshark mascot costume during last weekend's St. Andrews Mardi Gras Parade. This weekend, he will be wearing a pirate costume.

"I have four different costumes," added Crow, who joined the Krewe about eight years ago and also has been on the royal court. "I also have a real authentic looking pirate costume for Pirate Fest."

The Krewe of Dominique Youx also parades each year during the Pirates of the High Seas Fest in Pier Park on Columbus Day weekend.

"It's a lifestyle; I love it. A lot of good guys in the Krewe, a tight little group on the float," Crows said. "We spend time not just together at Mardi Gras but something every month, Springtime Tallahassee, Billy Bowlegs (in Fort Walton Beach), the DeSoto Parade, and the Fourth of July Parade in Lynn Haven. We've thrown a golf tournament in October and raised money to give back to Boys & Girls Club and Girls Inc. and Salvage Santa."

Children and adults are invited to dress up in the spirit of the season for this weekend's celebration. The Kids' Costume Contest is at 5 p.m. Friday just before the Kids' Parade from the South Stage down Pier Park Drive. Children in costume — full costume or just hats — are invited to join the parade, throwing beads, candy and moon pies.

"We have five floats in the Kids Parade, so far, the Black Pearl, Landshark, and floats from the TDC and Simon group," Crow said. "Any kid can ride; it doesn't matter if you are affiliated with it, as long as there's room. It's first-come, first-served. Wheel walkers will be keeping the crowds back and we allow the parents to ride if the kids are too small to ride alone."

He estimates the Krewe has between 20,000 and 25,000 beads to throw during the Kids Parade, along with other throws.

"I'll buy stuff in New Orleans and Mobile — Mardi Gras footballs, and other people bring bouncy balls," Crow said. "The Krewe will have 75,000 strands of beads for our floats."

The Krewe of Dominique Youx Mardi Gras at the Beach Parade at Pier Park is just after 4 p.m. Saturday, when pirates throw beads and doubloons to revelers along the parade route beginning at the intersection of Powell Adams Road and Front Beach Road, proceeding West and turning right into Pier Park.

But it's not just the Krewe of Dominique Youx who will be in the parade.

"We have over 100 participants this year," said Crow, who added the number included marching bands and floats. "And it will be perfect weather this weekend for it."

A Festival Village will be set up from 4-7:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday in Pier Park, where food vendors Shore Dogs and Smokin' Butts BBQ also will be set up. Kids' activities will include a Fun Zone outside the Grand Theatre from 4-6:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 

Pier Park's Celebration Stage will host live music on Friday with Waylon Thibodeaux and Saturday with the Sarah Jayde Williams Band and Louisiana's Le Roux.

On Saturday, the crowd will spill over into Aaron Bessant Park, where food vendors will include Capt.'s Lady Streetcar Cafe & Snoballs, Dovalina's Wood-Fired Pizza and A Taste of New Orleans, Smokin' Butts BBQ, as well as adult and regular beverages. Jo-El Sonnier will go on stage at noon at Aaron Bessant Park, where headliner Aaron Tippin will perform just after 1 p.m.

"Most of the time you think about Mardi Gras, you think about New Orleans, so we tried to put a blend with Cajun music, fiddles and accordions, things associated with Mardi Gras," said Richard Sanders, vice president of sports marketing and special events for the CVB. "And we stress it is a family-friendly event and knowing the demographic of winter residents we went with a blend of easy listening music, and it seemed to work out real well. Once we changed over to that type of event, three years ago, we were named the top five Mardi Gras event outside of New Orleans, and a lot depends on the Mardi Gras entertainment provided."

MARDI GRAS WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Friday, Feb. 24

4-6:30 p.m.: Float tours at L.C. Hilton W

4-6:30 p.m.: Kids Fun Zone at Sea Monkey Drive

4-7:30 p.m.: Festival Village at Sea Monkey Drive

5-5:20 p.m.: Opening Remarks; Kids Costume Contest on South Stage

5:20-6 p.m.: Kids Parade down Pier Park Drive

6-7 p.m.: Waylon Thibodeaux on Celebration Stage

7-7:30 p.m.: Second Line Parade on Pier Park Drive

7:30 p.m.: Fireworks from City Pier

Saturday, Feb. 25

7-10 a.m.: Mardi Gras 5K at Frank Brown Park

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Kids Fun Zone on Sea Monkey Drive

11 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Festival Village on Sea Monkey Drive

Noon to 1 p.m.: Jo-El Sonnier at Aaron Bessant Park

1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Headliner Aaron Tippin at Aaron Bessant Park

3-4 p.m.: The Sarah Jayde Williams Band on Celebration Stage

4-4:15 p.m.: Adult Costume Contest on Celebration Stage

4:15-5:45 p.m.: Krewe of Dominique Youx Mardi Gras at the Beach Parade at Pier Park

5:45-6:45 p.m.: Louisiana's Le Roux on Celebration Stage

7 p.m.: Fireworks from City Pier

What: Krewe of Dominique Youx celebrates Mardi Gras with family-friendly festival featuring parades, headliner Aaron Tippin, Cajun food, vendors, children's activities, costume contests and fireworks 

When: 4-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, with Kids Parade at 5:20 p.m.; and 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, with Aaron Tippin at 1:15 and main parade at 4:15 p.m.

Where: Pier Park and Aaron Bessant Park in Panama City Beach

Admission: Free

Details: visitpanamacitybeach.com or mardigrasatthebeach.com

Mardi Gras & Music Festival