Gallery: Mardi Gras in the Hub City
Mardi Gras (aka, "Fat Tuesday") is the season of carnival. It's a time of parades, feasting and fun prior to the 40-day interval of fasting (Lent) that precedes Easter.
Two groups formally celebrate Mardi Gras in Hattiesburg. The oldest, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus, held it's initial coronation ceremony in 1924. The event took place at the (then) San Souci Tea House on Camp Shelby Road; B. D. King was the king, while Marion Longino served as queen. A newer group, The Krewe of Elks, was formed in 1967 with Louis Schwizer and Lois Henington reigning as king and queen, respectively (Hattiesburg American, 3/1/1981).
We searched our Mardi Gras archives* to create this gallery that recognizes our local krewes. While material isn't available for every year, the resulting slide shows are reminders that the Hub City knows how to "pass a good time" during carnival season.
(*Selected Krewe of Zeus scans are from the Lynn Meador and Ursula Jones collections.)
As they say in Louisiana, "Laissez les bon temps roullier!" (Let the good times roll!)
Mystic Krewe of Zeus Play ►3:16 Krewe of Elks Play ►1:11