Angela Quigley and her daughter, Hanna, 8, of Hillsboro.
From left, Ashley Herren, Hayley and Connor Westhoff, Richelle Bain and Ryan Westhoff all from Festus.
2026 Mardi Gras Parade started off with the Color Guard in the lead.
Taytro’s Mardi Gras float.
Epique Reality with a pirate ship float.
Courtney Wisely of Festus with Spotlight Community Theatre performers.
Giant pirate with a sword walking in the Mardi Gras parade.
A pirate is handing out beads as the parade travels down the street in the rain.
Shelly Kozma, right, of Herculaneum and Kim Scott of De Soto participated in the Mardis Gras parade just to enjoy having a good time together.
Members of the Spotlight Community Theatre participated in the parade to raise awareness of their upcoming production of Finding Nemo Jr, which will take place March 12-15 at the Contrarian. Courtney Wisely, the founder and leader of Spotlight, said it worked out well that many of the cast members brought their jellyfish costumes, which were made of clear umbrellas.
Jeffrey (center), Olivia (second from right) and Lillian (far right) Hart, of Herculaneum, came to the parade with several friends. The Harts found a creative way to be festive and watch the parade while staying warm and dry—by eating lunch in a window seat at Main and Mill.
Kid’s art and fun activities were held after the parade at The Contrarian Concert Hall and Theater.
Evan Rogers, 37, of Crystal City came to the Mardis Gras Pet Parade with his 3-year-old six-pound cat, Mavis. Rogers owns the Vac Shack in Festus and Mavis is his shop cat.
Nancy Blaha, 49, of rural Festus with her dog Waffles, a 3-year-old 22-pound beagle pitbull mix.
Festus Elks Lodge 1721 with a blow-up jester attached to their float.
Leader staff and friends, from left, Abby Stetina, Rob and Peggy Scott, Lindsay Recar and Katelyn Mary Skaggs.
YMCA float with exercise bikes.
Mardi Gras Jeep and a bead tossed.
Clydesdales and horses.
A blow-up shark character makes its way down the street.
Pirates on the Epique Reality float.
Fun crowds at the 2026 Mardi Gras parade.
Beads are flying at the parade.
Leona Ellison, 9, of Festus has collected a few beads at the 2026 Mardi Gras Parade.
Dan and Sharon Becker represent the Bad Habit Band playing for Mardi Gras at Taytro's.
Deb Wideman of Festus. They call her "Shorty."
Lisa Hahl with Advocates for Animals and a 2-year-old mix named Noelle.
Ted Alison with Ellie Mae’s Menagerie holding Bella, a 7-month-old kangaroo.
Colton Farris, 5, of Pevely pets Ozzie, a 1-year-old kangaroo.
Irizza Westerfield, 8, of Hillsboro with her dog, Trixie, 2.
Moose is a 3-year-old double doodle.
Benji Hughley, 2, of Festus pets Snickers, a 15-year-old Papillon.
Leading the parade in the side by side is the Canine Companion Therapy Program.
Main street was filled with a wide variety of dogs for the Pet Parade.
Patrick Thomas family participated in the pet parade.
A King Charles Spaniel
Bassett Hound
German Shepherd wearing cool shoes.
Paradegoers walk in the Mardi Gras Pet Parade.
Cousins Georgia Poplawski, 4, of Festus and Rosie Barley, 4, of Festus watch the pet parade.
