Mood:  celebratory

Pier Park celebrates Mardi Gras this weekend. Panama City Beach’s Pier Park open-air lifestyle has two days of fun, food and entertainment.

Friday, March 4- (5pm): The streets of Pier Park are closed to vehicular traffic and the second line parade begins as spectators form behind the brass band waving handkerchiefs, parasols or their arms in the air.

Saturday, March 5- (10am): Festivities kick-off with a kid’s parade winding through the colorful mix of stores and restaurants in Pier Park

(11am-2pm): Kids can participate in a fun-filled activity center as well as participate in a pirate costume contest, treasure hunt, face painting and mask painting.

(2pm): The Mardi Gras parade with King, Queen and Court begins,  as floats make their way along Front Beach Road and march through Pier Park.  The fun continues after the parade with live entertainment, regal costumes, masks, beads, trinkets, Cajun fare including gumbo and low-country boils, and much more.

(9pm): The evening ends with a fireworks display over the Gulf.

Both days are open to the public with free admission.