Get your costumes ready for the Venice Beach Mardi Gras Parade on Feb. 25th!

Thanks to Miss Jessica and the Gumbo Brothers for keeping the Venice Beach Mardi Gras Parade tradition alive for the last 24 years!

Date and time: Sunday, February 25
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 pm
Theme: Magical Mystical Trip
Flyer above by Todd von Hoffmann

Here is a message from reigning King Toussaint & Queen Heather.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! It’s that joyous time of the year!!! As we all know change is inevitable…and with that We, Your King Toussaint L. Banks and your Queen Heatha Bee bring you an exciting Royal Announcement!!!

Our Reign, “What a Honor it was, Thank you!!” is coming to The End. We feel so honored to have been chosen by you, our most beloved Venetian Citizenry, to serve. You showed exceptional taste and we thank you for your Wisdom & Party Down Priorities.

Which brings us to a Badass Royal Privilege to share with you all. Your New 2024 Venice Mardi Gras Royals To-Be are Marky Lennon n (King) & Jeffrey Banks (King Consort)!

Join Us as We celebrate our latest Members of The Royal Family in what promises to be An Epic Parade.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!

PS: As our Final Royal Proclamation – We Decree that Superbowl Monday will Henceforth Be A National Holiday.

Feb. 25th. Venice Beach Mardi Gras Parade Schedule:

11: 00 a.m. Pre Parade party
12:00 p.m PARADE starts at ROSE AVE and the Boardwalk
2:00-6:00 p.m. After Parade Dance Party at the Sidewalk Cafe with The Gumbo Brothers
Street parking or park at the North City Parking Lot
Use this address for parking/start location: 300 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, Ca. 90291.

View past Mardi Gras photos by Venice Paparazzi

Need photographers or a photo booth for your 2024 event? HireVP.com Alex and Edizen 310.922.8456

Right: Ms. Jessica

A little Venice History:

Following insert by Jeffrey Stanton. “Venice held its first annual Mardi Gras Festival August 16-18, 1935. The three day event featuring parades, costumes, contests and entertainment, was modeled after the New Orleans event. It began with the arrival of King Neptune in an outrigger canoe followed by Queen Venetia’s coronation and a royal procession along Ocean Front Walk. The queen read a proclamation commanding her subjects to engage in three days of fun and frivolity. The afternoon parade featured floats and costumed merrymakers wearing enormous plaster of Paris heads that were manufactured in Arthur Reese’s studio.

Windward Avenue was roped off for a street carnival where wandering gondoliers entertained. The parade included Keystone Cops and people wearing enormous plaster of Paris head gear. The king and queen’s float along Venice’s Ocean Front Walk. – 1938. There was an afternoon treasure hunt for children and an evening program of aquatic events on Saturday. Sunday’s Miss California beauty pageant drew huge crowds, and a Mardi Gras Ball in the evening capped the celebration. The Mardi Gras Festival became an annual event of considerable importance prior to World War II. It became bigger and better each succeeding year and civic pride improved. By 1941 five hundred thousand people attended the expanded four day event in its final year. For more history on Venice, visit Jeffrey Stanton’s website.