2021 Mardi Gras on the Coast: Alternative events in the works

Carnival season begins Wednesday.

However, like most things in the past year, 2021 festivities will look a little different than normal.

Day ... and a few clouds in ... even begins wednesday.

However, like most things in the past year 2021 festivities will look- news 25's grace boyles catches- up with the coastal - mississippi mardi gras museum - and the krewe of gemini to see- what some of the alternative- celebrations will be.

- - less than a week after mayor- andrew fofo gilich announced- there will be no mardi gras - parades in the city of biloxi - this year, another city here on- the - gulf coast has decided to do th- same.

- mayor billy hewes declared- monday the city of gulfport wil- not host any mardi gras events- this year, including- parades, due to covid-19.

In a- press release from the city,- mayor hewes cites the lack of - universal access to covid - vaccinations until well into th- spring, as one of the - reasons for the decision.

- shellie moses, krewe of gemini- ball captain: "on the mississippi gulf coast, we're - purple, green, and gold and so,- i think it's important for us t- keep that spirit alive, whether- it's having drive-by parades- - - with people and getting them- involved in it or putting up- your wreath and decorations - because carnival is alive and - well, it just looks a little bi- different in 2021."

Alternatively, the krewe of - gemini and city of agreed to- keep- their options open for the- possibility of a mardi gras - observance halfway to the next- carnival season.- shellie moses, krewe of gemini- ball captain: "we are looking a moving forward and celebrating- the carnival season at a later- date in the summer when it's- warmer and everybody can get ou- and have a good - time."

Having to cancel its traditiona- public twelfth night- celebration, the coastal- mississippi mardi gras museum i- - turning to facebook live to hel- spread the carnival spirit- this year.- anna harris, coastal mississipp- mardi gras museum executive - director: "we'll have our king, johnny atherton, there and he'l- raise a glass.

We hope you'll - join us and raise a glass at- home and start celebrtating - mardi gras."

/ "we do still wa - - to celebrate.

It's still mardi- gras.

Mardi gras can't be - canceled.

It goes on."

Other ways the mardi gras museum is - keeping mardi - gras alive on the gulf coast in- 20- 21 is by hosting a yardi- party - contest starting tuesday where- residents and businesses are- encouraged to show off their- purple, green, and gold on- social media... and selling "to geaux" mardi gras baskets filled with everything you need- to celebrate, - including king cakes, for one - hundred dollars.- in harrison county, grace - boyles, news 25.- - - - green and gold decorations on social media as well as selling to go mardi gras baskets with everything you need to celebrate king cakes for $100.

Interesting