Beads by the Beach: Your Ultimate Guide to Emerald Coast Mardi Gras Staff Reports February 9, 2026 1:37 pm Emerald Coast, Events In Brief: Who: Local krewes, residents, visitors, and Gulf Coast communities What: Mardi Gras parades, festivals, live music, and themed events When: Jan. 30 through Feb. 17, 2026 Where: Panama City Beach, Navarre Beach, Destin, Sandestin, Pensacola, Orange Beach Why: To celebrate Mardi Gras traditions with a coastal, family-friendly twist Mardi Gras will return to the Emerald Coast in early 2026 with a packed calendar of parades, festivals, and family-friendly celebrations stretching from Panama City Beach to Pensacola and beyond. Major events are scheduled from late January through mid-February, blending traditional Mardi Gras pageantry with coastal themes, live music, and community-centered festivities across Northwest Florida and nearby Alabama beaches. Panama City Beach kicked off the season on Jan. 30–31 with the Panama City Beach Mardi Gras & Music Festival at Pier Park. The two-day event featured the Krewe of Dominique Youx parade, live music, children’s activities, and fireworks. Destin’s HarborWalk Village will host Mardi Gras on the Harbor on Feb. 13, a nighttime event featuring a second-line style parade, live music, and New Orleans-inspired food and drinks. Destin will also host a Mardi Gras Dinner Cruise aboard SunQuest Cruises’ Solaris yacht later in February, offering a three-course meal and live entertainment on the water. The following weekend, Pensacola will take center stage with the Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade on Feb. 14, one of the region’s largest...
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