Hattiesburg's Mardi Gras parade rolls Saturday. What you need to know

Lici Beveridge, Hattiesburg American
·2 min read

The annual Caerus Mardi Gras parade is set to roll at 1 p.m. Saturday, with thousands of celebrants lining the streets of Midtown Hattiesburg to watch the floats roll by and hope for a special throw coming their way.

Revelers are expecting to enjoy a colorful afternoon full of festivities along Hardy Street from the U.S. 49 frontage road at the University of Southern Mississippi to the turn-off at 38th Avenue. The parade route officially ends at Pearl Street.

Ahead of the parade, below are some things you should know:

  • Staging for the parade will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the corner of West Seventh Street and the U.S. 49 frontage road (Service Drive). The area will be closed to through traffic.

  • Parade organizers have asked participants not to throw beads and other items from their floats once they pass Pearl Street at 38th Avenue, so if you want to catch some beads, a plush toy or moon pies, stay along the official parade route.

Are you ready? Date set for Hattiesburg's 2023 Caerus Mardi Gras Parade

Members of the Sidelines bar Krewe of Jesters toss beads during the Caerus Mardi Gras Parade in Hattiesburg, Miss., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.
Members of the Sidelines bar Krewe of Jesters toss beads during the Caerus Mardi Gras Parade in Hattiesburg, Miss., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.

  • For a more enjoyable experience, bring bottled water, snacks, lawn chairs, sunscreen and bags for throws.

  • Barriers will be placed in some areas of the parade route for safety reasons, but other areas will be open, so be sure to keep your distance to avoid injury.

  • An official after-parade street party will be held at Nannie Mac's, 3805 West Fourth St.

  • To help detour traffic away from the parade route, north- and southbound 40th Avenue will remain open.

Map of Caerus Mardi Gras Parade route
Map of Caerus Mardi Gras Parade route

The following intersections will be closed from 11:45 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m.:

  • West Fourth Street and Service Drive

  • College Drive and Service Drive

  • Felder Place and Service Drive

  • Alumni Drive and Service Road

  • Southern Miss Drive and Service Road

  • Southern Miss Drive and Hardy Street

  • South 27th Avenue and Hardy Street

  • South 28th Avenue and Hardy Street

  • East Memorial Drive and Hardy Street

  • South 29th Avenue and Hardy Street

  • West Memorial Plaza and Hardy Street

  • North and South 31st Avenue and Hardy Street

  • North 32nd Avenue and Hardy Street

  • North 33rd Avenue and Hardy Street

  • Southampton Road and Hardy Street

  • Ross Boulevard and Hardy Street

  • North and South 34th Avenue and Hardy Street

  • North 35th Avenue and Hardy Street

  • North 36th Avenue and Hardy Street

  • South 37th Avenue and Hardy Street

  • North 38th Avenue and Hardy Street

  • Pearl Street and North 38th Avenue

  • Montague Boulevard and North 38th Avenue

  • Mable Street and North 38th Avenue

  • Morningside Drive and North 38th Avenue

Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Road closures, tips for Hattiesburg's Caerus Mardi Gras parade