Waka Flocka Flame at Mardi Gras Mambo Pensacola

The Pensacola Bay Center was rocking Thursday as Waka Flocka Flame and a host of other legends kept the crowd on its feet. The annual Pensacola Mardi Gras Mambo concert kicks off four days of festivities to celebrate the season.

Here’s what’s next throughout the Mardi Gras weekend.

Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Mardi Gras Parade

When: 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13
Where: Downtown Pensacola

The Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Mardi Gras Parade is the first of Pensacola’s main parades. What makes this parade special is that, as the name implies, it’s hosted at night, allowing the floats to be lit up. Parade floats are already impressive, but they look even cooler when they’re completely lit up.

This is a family-friendly event that starts at 7:30 p.m. and goes on for a few hours. You can catch candy, beads, toys, stuffed animals, bouncy balls, local swag and, of course, Moon Pies.

Note the new route for all Palafox parades during construction is instead of crossing Garden Street and traveling down South Palafox Street to Main Street, both parades will cross Garden Street and travel down Jefferson Street to Main Street.

Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade

When: 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14
Where: Downtown Pensacola

Drawing in more than 100,000 people, the Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade is the main attraction. You’ll find all of the fun from the Illuminated Parade and more. This event has hundreds of floats and tends to last about four hours.

Krewe of Wrecks Pensacola Beach Parade

When: 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15
Where: Via de Luna from Avenida 11 to the Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach, Pensacola Beach

The Krewe of Wrecks Parade is the last parade of the season and it’s held on Pensacola Beach. This is a smaller parade that first happened in 1980. The parade starts off at Avenida 10 and Via DeLuna, runs west and then disbands at the Gulfside Pavilion in the Casino Beach parking lot. After-parties are aplenty after the parade where judges will award trophies.

French Quarter Fat Tuesday Celebration

When: 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026
Where: Seville Quarter, Downtown Pensacola

The Priscus Celebration, a longtime Pensacola Mardi Gras tradition, begins at 11 a.m. with a Jazz Royalty Brunch featuring a Mardi Gras menu, Half Shell Vodka Bloody Mary Specials and low country boil. Krewes will take over every room inside historic Seville Quarter, transforming the historic complex into the French Quarter for the day.

Krewe Royalty and elected officials will be on hand as Seville Quarter is overtaken and becomes the French Quarter. The coronation of a the new Priscus Royalty will take place around 7 pm, and the end of the 2026 Mardi Gras season will be commemorated at midnight.