Mardi Gras "House Floats" Return to Hancock County

2/10/2022

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An exuberant new tradition that rolled into the Bay just last year is back: house floats!

- story and photos by Wendy Sullivan

One of the first house floats of 2022 begs for beads on Main Street.

Oversized flowers adorning buildings, hands extending up from fences poised to catch beads, mannequins in New Orleans float costumes, yarn-bombed fence posts, sparkling cutout cars in front yards: the Hancock County House Float contest returns.

Focusing on fun, family, and a safe, contact-free way to participate in Mardi Gras, people are decorating their homes and businesses.

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Hancock County’s House Floats build on the New Orleans House Float movement that began last year amid the Covid-19 pandemic and canceled parades. While parades have resumed this year, the House Float movement was so popular, that it seems as if it may be here to stay.

The goal is to make your house look as much like a Mardi Gras float as possible. This house certainly accomplished that goal!

Although this year has been off to a slow start, event coordinators Elise Deano and Kay Kell are hoping more folks will register. Last year there were 100 floats in the community.

Registration deadline is February 15, 2022. The registration form is available at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdj7z9a2G28hQKhd9vMk-MLTI5mtebTl6-14aN_ycI-ZFKYEg/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3C4frGi9e29FpO2WK7SJH3_KeGioNl4O0QRTHZW2DMRLVYQ21pWypFvAw. Floats need to be completed by the same date. A map will be created and shared, so everyone can enjoy these community creations.

Another early 2022 entry is this beautiful two-story home, "dressed" for the party!

No display is too small or too large, and they demonstrate the range in creativity. Lights are optional – although some participants have been able to recycle Halloween green and purple lights for their “floats.” The traditional green, gold and purple are the primary colors – with healthy portions of glitter added to many of the displays.

Even community garden Ruth's Roots gets into the Mardi Gras act!

While the emphasis is on fun and community, there is an array of amazing prizes to offer an incentive to the decorators. For the best business and best house, winners will receive $500 each. Additional door prizes have been donated from local businesses, including Rosetti’s Liquor Barrel, Bee by the Bay, Wholey Foods, Starfish Café, Bay Town Inn, Ann Madden, and Studio Inferno. The coordinators are also seeking more donations to add to this marvelous event.

Kay and Elise explained, “We want the county to be covered in Mardi Gras Magic.”

Time to get those beads out and throw them around!

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