Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Mardi Gras excitement grows in Gulf Shores as city officials prepare for the 47th Annual Mardi Gras Parade and the associated traffic changes. The parade will travel along Highway 59, one of the busiest roads in the city. Police and city crews plan to close several streets to ensure safety for crowds and participants. Residents and visitors are advised to plan ahead to avoid surprises from street closures.

The parade is scheduled for Fat Tuesday, February 17, beginning at 10 a.m. Floats will line up at the intersection of Clubhouse Drive and Highway 59 before proceeding south toward the Gulf. The route will end where Highway 59 meets Highway 182, also known as Beach Boulevard.

To accommodate staging, several streets near the northern end of the route will close at 7 a.m. West 1st Street from West 19th Avenue to Clubhouse Drive, Clubhouse Drive between West 1st and West 2nd streets, West 2nd Street from West 19th Avenue to Commerce Drive, and Main Gulf Place will all be blocked off. West 2nd Street between Commerce Drive and Fort Morgan Road will remain open unless parade organizers decide more space is needed.

Highway 59, the main north–south road through Gulf Shores, will close in both directions at 9:35 a.m. The closure will extend from the south end of the W.C. Holmes Bridge at 20th Avenue to Highway 182 and Beach Boulevard. Traffic will not be allowed back onto the highway until the last float has passed and crews remove the barricades.

City officials emphasize that the parade will not be rescheduled in the event of severe weather that would require cancellation. They encourage anyone with questions to contact the Special Events team at 251-968-1171 or visit the city’s Mardi Gras webpage for the parade route map and latest updates. The release concludes with an invitation to the community: “We hope to see everyone at the parade!”