29-01-2025
New krewe bringing Mardi Gras magic to Central Baldwin County for first time
LOXLEY, Ala. (WKRG) — Over the years, the Mardi Gras spirit has spread from Mobile to surrounding communities.
This year, the good times are rolling in a new city as a krewe in Loxley is hosting its first-ever Mardi Gras parade.
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After celebrating year after year across the Gulf Coast, a group of men in Loxley figured it was time to bring the magic of Mardi Gras to their hometown.
'I mean, it's all around us. The Eastern Shore, Fairhope, Mobile, of course, where it originated,' a member of the Knights of Côte d'Azur said. 'So we put all our minds together and came up with, 'Hey, we need to do it.''
The member of the krewe told the organization wanted a unique name that represented the group and its roots in Baldwin County.
'You know, KOCA, Knights of Côte d'Azur, it means Redneck Riviera,' the krewe member said. 'Highway 59 was the corridor to the Gulf, so it was always called the Redneck Riviera. So we turned that around and that's what it means.'
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The krewe said it began preparing for this year's Mardi Gras season back in 2023 when the krewe was first founded. They said that after years of preparation, they're finally ready to ride through the streets of Loxley.
'It's been a lot of work and there's a lot of guys that put a lot of time into this,' he said. 'We're going to have some bumps in the road, but we really prepared for them. The city's worked with us and we're excited. We're ready to go. And we just hope people come out and see us.'
The krewe is 160 members strong, and the theme for year one is Knight 1 to honor their inaugural first ride.
Loxley officials said city departments are busy preparing for the festivities.
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'We're beefing up our law enforcement. We will have to use some outside law enforcement,' Loxley Mayor Richard Teal said. 'The fire department will be involved, our utility departments and public works. Everybody will be involved in hosting and putting on this Mardi Gras parade.'
Loxley city officials said they're excited and proud to not only represent the people of Loxley but also to host central Baldwin County's first-ever Mardi Gras parade.
'We're the first one, so we're hoping we have a good crowd and we invite all of Baldwin and Mobile County over here to be part of it,' Loxley City Councilmember Jeff Knight said. 'We're just excited to work with the locals here in Loxley, and everybody is really getting excited about it.'
The parade will kick off at the Loxley Civic Center on March 1 at 6:30 p.m. boasting eight floats and performances by the Robertsdale High School Marching Band and cheerleaders.
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