Looking for something to do outdoors as the Coastal Bend warms back up? Or maybe something a little different to do on a family trip to the beach? Maybe you just want a reason for some seasonal celebration? Check out Barefoot Mardi Gras: a Corpus Christi tradition and a great reason to get outdoors to spend time with friends and family!
The 2023 celebration will take place on February 18, 2023. The parade rolls out at 11:00 a.m., along the beach, off Park Road 22, between Whitecap Boulevard and Bob Hall Pier. Folks are encouraged to park their cars on the beach along the parade route.
There are plenty of reasons to partake in this series of parties and parades:
1. It’s unique to the Coastal Bend!
Corpus Christi and Cajun culture come together perfectly on the beach every year for this annual celebration, making for a unique experience you can’t get anywhere else.
2. It’s outdoors when the weather is at its best!
With highs in the 70s around this time of year, it’ll be a nice, cool day to hang out with friends and family out at the beach. (You should probably still wear sunscreen, though!)
3. The parade is free and family-friendly!
Ah, what could be better than a day at the beach with your family…? Well, adding a parade, of course!
4. It’s a Gulf Coast Capital tradition in the making!
What started as a little backyard get-together in 2009 has grown every year since. There’s a parade, a ball, a party, and more each year as the celebration grows in popularity.
5. There’s a ball to attend!
If you’re looking for more of a masquerade, there’s the King & Queen’s Ball, a ticketed event where each year’s Barefoot Mardi Gras King and Queen are named. Come here for food, music, and drinks—and dressing up for Mardi Gras here is encouraged! You can purchase tickets for the King & Queen's Ball here.
6. It benefits a cause every year!
The celebrations have also raised funds for groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters and Seashore Charter Schools, so it’s that much easier to support a good cause while having a good time! The 2023 Barefoot Mardi Gras celebrations will benefit the Texas Sealife Center, a local non-profit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of Texas coastal and aquatic wildlife.
So if you’re looking for a few celebrations to get you in the mood for Fat Tuesday this year, look no further. Whether you’re a Corpus Christi local or a visitor looking for some good beach time, head out to Padre Island, bring your beads out to the beach, and leave your shoes in the car for Barefoot Mardi Gras this year!
Check out all the Barefoot Mardi Gras festivities you can attend below.
