Live Local: Gulf Coast Carnival Association Float Den

It’s time to Live Local, a series you can catch every Thursday. For this week’s edition, News 25’s Lorraine Weiskopf takes us to the Gulf Coast Carnival Association Float Den.

The Gulf Coast Carnival Association traces it roots back to 1908 and it was Biloxi’s first Mardi Gras parade. While they won’t be rolling through the streets this year, they’re keeping their floats in lock down at their den.

Now, you might be wondering: who is responsible for crafting these Mardi Gras masterpieces? Meet Doug Blom! “I’ve built every one of them for about 40 years.”

Blom is responsible for creating all of the association’s 25 floats. Although some of his work has been lost as the original den received major storm damage.

The original float den was damaged during Hurricane Katrina. With only two floats surviving, including the orange one-eyed behind me. Now you might be wondering how these floats survived such a monster storm?  “They lived up to their name and they floated.”

While some of Biloxi’s Mardi Gras history has been washed away, the Biloxi Library holds documentation of floats being built and season’s celebration. Biloxi Library Historian Jane Shambra said, “We have about four pictures and it shows the stages of construction for this particular dragon float. The last picture is the dragon float going down the street.”

For now, we can admire the past while the floats wait, ready to parade next year.