VIP Pensacola at Seville Quarter/ Palafox Street

D

owntown streets, Palafox and 
Government were lined with 
over 40 floats and krewes 
to be blessed during the 

2019 Mardi Gras Season Kick-Off 
Celebration. Phineas Fogg’s in Seville 
Quarter hosted a special VIP reception 
party before the official kick-off 
began. Sponsors and special guests 
were invited to enjoy food and drinks. 
These attendees also caught a bird’s 
eye view for the blessing of the krewes 
by The Reverend Nicholas Schumm. 
Several members of the Escambia 
Sherriff’s Department, Pensacola Police 
Department and Fire Department were on hand 
to witness the blessings, as well as Commissioner 

Lumon May, Commissioner Robert Bender, 

and Mayor Grover Robinson. After the 

inside blessings, the 2019 Priscus King 

and Queen, Alan Bell and Pam Burke 

from the Krewe of Daisy Dukes 

were presented. The Second Line 

Procession was led along Government 
and Palafox Streets to bless the floats. 

After the procession, guests were 

invited to partake in the traditional 

King Cake, which was provided this 

year by Bluejay’s Bakery.

Pensacola Mardi Gras Inc. is a 

volunteer-based board ran by Danny 

Zimmern and Amy Newman. PMGI organizes 

the events that Pensacola residents get excited for 

every year. 

Kate & Allen Strum

Elizabeth Schrey & Jeremy Ochoa

Brock Lester & Tommi Lyter

Gary Blatz, Cathy & David Kroeger

Mary Dickson Quina & Cindy Rogers

Susan Moore & Elizabeth Anderson

photos & story by

 Kristina Wright

Mary Chastain, Erica Wysoczynski & Truli Hartley

Jackie Tucker & Melanie Dillon

Alan Ball & Pam Burke

2019

February 2019   |   13

13-15 - Event 2019 Mardi Gras Season Kick-Off Celebration/SAENGER .indd   1

1/26/19   3:30 PM