Mardi Gras Parade winners awarded at City Board meeting

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Ten floats from this year’s Mardi Gras parade were honored Monday morning at the weekly city board meeting, with Kim Hopkins, executive director of the Vicksburg Main Street Program, calling the event a tremendous success.

“The 24th annual Mardi Gras parade turned out to be a fantastic afternoon. It was a beautiful day, and an amazing crowd packed Washington Street,” Hopkins said. “Vicksburg Main Street would like to extend a wholehearted thank you to our community, who enthusiastically supported this year’s Mardi Gras parade and made the annual event a tremendous success.”

2025 Mardi Gras Parade Float Award Winners:

• Best Nonprofit – Krewe of Elks
• Most Original – Krewe of de Hill
• Rhythm & Beads Award – Pretty Pink Panthers
• Most Enthusiastic – Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Eta Tau Chapter
• Best Recreational Club – The Dancin’ Grannies
• Standing Ovation Award – Westside Theatre Foundation
• Carnival Cavalry Award – American Legion Post 3
• Best Throws – Krewe de la Burg
• Best in Business – Golding Barge Line
• Best in Show – Bally’s Casino Vicksburg

Norma Massey was also honored as the 2025 Mardi Gras Queen.

“Thank you, I’m honored,” Massey said. “After all these years, it means so much to me being such a part of Main Street. I love Vicksburg, and I thank you all for the support and this honor.”

Hopkins credited the success of the parade to the community’s efforts.

“A parade takes a lot of people to put it on, and we had many hands and many hours to pull it all together,” she said. “We could not do it without everyone. We would like to thank all who helped bring the carnival fun downtown to Vicksburg. We look forward to seeing everyone at the 25th annual Mardi Gras parade.”

Alderman Alex Monsour acknowledged this year’s event as the largest Mardi Gras parade he has seen in Vicksburg.

“Since I’ve been here, that was the largest parade I’ve ever seen with Mardi Gras,” Monsour said. “Y’all did a great job. Thanks again to all the city workers, thanks to everyone who had something to do with it. We had a great turnout.”