The Escambia Westgate Center closed out Carnival season 2026 with its 33rd annual Mardi Gras parade on Feb. 20.
More than 32 units including the krewes of Anarchy, Blues, Hip Huggers, the Marionettes, SWAT and the du YaYas, along with other community organizations, paraded through the center’s parking lot tossing beads, stuffed animals, hula hoops and other goodies to students.
“The majority of our students have sensory issues or else they’re very medically fragile. For a parent to take them downtown to a parade is a just bit much for our kids. Here they get to do the same thing as other children do. They get to enjoy Mardi Gras in a safe environment where we can control all of the things that you could not control at a public parade,” said Cathy Rudd, Escambia Westgate Center’s principal.
The center currently has 135 students who are from Pre-K to age 22.
“We have the best throws in town. When the krewes come here, they go all out. Our kids get stuffed animals, and some really cool things, not just the beads,” Rudd added.
Second grader Jaylah Rudolph agrees with her principal—except she loves beads.
“I love the floats and I always want more beads,” Jayla said with many strands of assorted beads around her neck.
Vocational student Emily Forbes liked getting out of class for the morning.
“I like being outside. My favorite catch today was a bag of chips,” said Forbes, who is visually impaired and has been an Escambia Westgate student since she was in Pre-K.
Sabrina Brown, the Escambia Westgate teacher who organizes the parade, said the parade started with one classroom pulling a wagon through the center and handing out throws to students.
“It slowly started getting too big for the hallways and we moved it outside. Now we have 30-plus krewes and other organizations here today,” Brown said.
Escambia Westgate also hosts a Krewe of Wildcats Mardi Gras Shoebox Float Contest.
Spearheaded by Christine Pugol, a speech language pathologist at the center and New Orleans native, said the idea is a throwback to her childhood celebration of Carnival season.
“I remember our school use to have a shoebox float contest, and I thought it would be something our students here would like,” she said, adding this year’s 12 entries were judged by the krewes participating in the center’s parade. “The winner of the contest gets really good bragging rights. But we have the top three winners.”
This is the fourth year for the shoebox parade contest and floats are judged on creativity, the uniqueness and student participation in design. Bonus points are awarded for elements of movement and sound on the floats.
“Each year the floats have gotten bigger and better. I’m so glad the classes have accepted the challenge,” Pugol said.
This year’s parade drew students from the University of West Florida and Ransom Middle School, along with the Washington High School cheerleaders who performed cheer routines. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Pensacola Police Department also turned out for the event.
Rudd also wanted to thank the community for turning out and supporting Escambia Westgate Center, not just during Mardi Gras but year round.
“This community always steps up when Escambia-Westgate needs something,” she said.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Good times roll at Escambia Westgate Center’s 33rd Mardi Gras parade
Reporting by Mary Lett, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
