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Apalachicola Mardi Gras Barkus Parade & Street Festival
February 21 - February 22
The Mystic Krewe of Salty Barkers is set to celebrate Mardi Gras in Apalachicola, Florida, with an expanded two-day event on February 21 and 22, 2025. This year’s festivities promise to be bigger and better, featuring a vibrant street festival and the 14th Annual Mardi Gras Pet Parade, which honors dogs and their human companions. Visitors and their furry friends are encouraged to participate in this exciting event.
The 2025 theme, “Game of Bones – the Canine Kingdom Rules,” invites participants to explore a fantastical world of canines and castles. Attendees can expect to see parading pups and their owners dressed in costumes inspired by the noble houses of the Seven Kingdoms. The event will showcase regal kings and queens, magicians, brave knights, rogues, daring dragons, and mystical creatures, all contributing to a spectacular display of creativity and spirit.
This year introduces a new day of festivities on Friday, February 21, from 2:00 to 8:00 pm ET. Guests can enjoy the Fido-Do, an old-fashioned Mardi Gras street event featuring street entertainment, an adopters reunion, live music, a beer and wine garden with local craft brews, costume and decorating contests, dragon relay races, and a live auction.
On Saturday, February 22, the celebration continues from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm ET at Apalachicola’s Riverfront Park. Visitors can enjoy live music, street entertainers, and over 40 local vendors offering a variety of food and arts and crafts. The parade, featuring decorated golf carts, boats, floats, and walkers—both two-legged and four-legged—begins at 1:00 pm ET. Starting at Riverfront Park, the parade winds through town and concludes back at the park, where the festivities will carry on with lively entertainment. Registration fees are $5 for walkers, $25 for golf carts, and $50 for floats, while canine companions can join for free.
The parade serves a charitable purpose, as the Mystic Krewe of Salty Barkers collaborates with local animal rescues to raise awareness and funds for animals in need. Attendees will not only enjoy the event but also contribute to helping injured animals and those seeking forever homes. The King and Queen of the parade are always shelter animals ready for adoption, and they will hold a place of honor in the procession.
For more information or to pre-register, interested parties can visit the event’s website or contact the organizers directly. The event is partially funded by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.
