MYSTIC KREWE
Salty Barkers
OF
Welcome!
FUNdraising for our furry and feathered friends of Florida’s Forgotten Coast
2025 Mardi Gras Barkus Parade & Festival
will be a 2-day event!!
This year’s theme: “Game of Bones - the Canine Kingdom Rules”
It will be tail-wagging fun as we journey into an imaginary world of canines and castles. Parading pups and their people will wear costumes inspired by noble houses of the Seven Kingdoms. We expect to see regal kings and queens, magicians, brave knights, rogues, lots of daring dragons and a mystical creature or two. We used Ai to generate some costume theme ideas below, but we can’t wait to see the creativity and spirit our guests bring to this spectacle of sword and sorcery.
Be sure to enter Friday’s costume contest!
schedule of events
Friday, Feb. 21, 2025
2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Riverfront Park, Apalachicola
Fido-Do - An old-fashioned Mardi Gras Street Event
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Decorating of Golfcarts & Parade Floats
2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Beer and Wine Garden with Local Craft Brews,
Early Parade Registration & T-shirt Sales
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Street Entertainment
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Adopters Reunion
& Live Music by Dirty Little Billy
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Judging: Costume & Decorating Contest
6:00 pm - Dragon Relay Races
7:00 - 7:20 Live Auction
7:20 pm - Introduction of Grand Marshal
7:30 pm Announcement of Winners of Decorating & Costume Contest
Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025
10:30 am - 5:00 pm Riverfront Park, Apalachica
14th Annual Mardi Gras Barkus Parade & Festival
10:30 am - 12:45 pm - Parade Registration
11:00 am - 3:30 pm - Silent Auction
12:00 pm - Street Entertainment
1:00 pm - Barkus Parade
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Live Music by Chicken Phat
Beer and Wine Garden with local Craft Brews
Pet & Family Photos
Pet Adoptions: Franklin County Humane Society
Animal Ambassadors: Florida Wild Mammal Assoc.
Non-profit exhibitors
T-shirt & Mardi Gras Merchandise
Craft Vendor Sales
SPONSOR NOW!
Get in early to take advantage of our enhanced 2025 advertising campaign. Get cool merchandise, free parade registrations, and invitations to exclusive Krewe pre-event festivities!
2024 PELICAN PATROL PARADE
$1000+ SPONSOR
2024 WILDLIFE WARRIORS $500 SPONSORS
2024 PAWSOME PET CRUSADERS $250 SPONSORS
Northrup Family Animal Care
Pisces Interiors, Inc
98 Liquors
Seymour Realty of St. George Island
Emerald Coast Federal Credit Union
Farnsley Wealth Management
Ace Hardware
Emily Peterson
Piggly Wiggly
Old Time Soda Fountain
Apalach Outfitters
2024Event Donors
A & S Creations
Apalachicola Bee Company
Apalachicola Physical Therapy
Apalachicola Yacht Club
Art of Glass
Bayside Coffee
Beach Pit
BECASA
Brandy Terrell
Cafe on Leche Internet Cafe
Capt. Gill Autrey
Carrabelle Junction
Chef Brett Gormley
CK Honey
Coast
Coastal Cottage Living
Coombs Inn
Deep Southern Boutique
Eastpoint Brewing Company
Emerald Coast Federal Credit Union
Family Coastal Restaurant
Fisherman’s Choice Bait & Tackle
Forgotten Coast Lavender
Gail & Ron Dierolf
Gibson Inn
Half Shell Dockside
Island Carts
High five Dive Bar
Jeff & Caroline Ilardi
Jim & Karen Bellman
Jon Johnson
Ken & Connie Justice
Kristin Anderson
Mangia 850
Marty & Gina Adkins
Mood Dog Art
Mark & Natalie Parsley
Nauti Buoy Fishing Charters
Norton & Ellie Tullis
Pamela Corcoran
Panhandle Players
People’s South Bank
Pirate Girl’s Treasures
Pisces Interiors Inc
Quattro Locos Tacos & Cantina
Random Catch
Red Pirate Restaurant
Richard Bickel
Rising Waves Coastal
Riverlily
Riverside Mercantile
Roses Botanicals & Soap Factory
Saltwater Wellness Studio
Seaside Cotton Clothing
SGI Trading Company
Shirley Richardson
Star Flower Design
Station Raw Bar
Sue Burnfin
The Clogging Potter
The Pearl
Torben & Sarah Madson
Water H20 Sports
Water Street Seafood
Wayne’s Hair Studio
Wefings Marina
Wired, Fired, and Inspired
Worn By the Sea
Why do we do it?
The mission of the krewe is to help animals of our beautiful Forgotten Coast...and have fun while doing it! The annual Mardi Gras Barkus Parade raises money for food, shelter and medical care at the Franklin County Humane Society and the Florida Wild Mammal Association. Other krewe events include having a holiday pet food drive for animals living in families requiring hospice and supporting the local dog park with necessary poop pick up bags and supplies. Whether wild or domestic, we just know that life is better with animals!
AND MARDI GRAS
Because - WHY NOT?
How we started
In 2010 a lively bunch of animal-loving folks in the small, coastal town of Apalachicola, Florida, decided to renew an old tradition...with a twist, or rather a tail.
At the dawn of the 20th Century, Apalachicola celebrated Mardi Gras with three days of brass bands, costumed characters, and boisterous parades. Mardi Gras royalty arrived by boat and floats were pulled by mules were decorated with Palmetto fronds and Camellias. The serious years of World War I put a complete stop to the celebration...until the Mystic Krewe of Salty Barkers re-energized the enthusiasm.
Now Mardi Gras has made a comeback in the form of a “Barkus” Parade, a procession of costumed canines and their owners, Zydeco music, and lots of beads. There is always a special place in the parade for the Canine King and Queen, shelter animals in need of their furever homes.
Past themes have included “Bark Side of the Moon”, “Furry Tails Come True”, and “Bour-Bone Street Blues”. The 2024 theme, “GIT ALONG LITTLE DOGGIES” is sure to entertain!
After winding through downtown, the parade ends at a Fais Do-Do, a public party with live music, dancing, Cajun food, local seafood, auctions, arts and crafts vendors and more beads.
Our volunteers have worked hard to become a Florida registered 501c3 nonprofit organization. Proceeds from all Krewe events are for the benefit of the animals of Franklin County. Since 2014 we have donated over $80,000.00!
Join our Krewe and let the fun continue! The Krewe participates in other parades and private events. Membership is open to anyone who loves animals and likes to have fun.
Theme: Git Along Lil’ doggies
Grand Marshal: Sheriff AJ Tony Smith
Queen: June Bug
King: Noa
adopted
adopted
2024 Parade Review
The 2024 Apalachicola Mardi Gras Barkus Parade was a phenomenal success. Two and four legged friends flooded the streets again from all over the country to walk, wag and woof their way through downtown. Police Chief Varnes, Sheriff Smith (this year’s Grand Marshal) and Mayor Ash led the parade of pooches in western themed attire. There were beautiful memorials to pets who will be missed but never forgotten (Sheriff’s “Tucker” and “Hounddog”). The weather was glorious, with the exception of a few wind gusts, and in true Mardi Gras fashion – the costumes were unforgettable, and the entertainment was hopping. Queen June Bug & King Noa were adopted, as were several other dogs and a cat.
This event was supported by incredibly generous sponsors, including the Franklin County Tourism Development Council, Duke Energy, Scipio Creek Marina, Apalachicola Chocolate and Coffee Company, The Pet Stop, Centennial Bank and the Eastpoint Beer Company. In addition, many people and businesses generously donated to the silent auction. The Mystic Krewe of Salty Barkers is thankful for the support and hard work of volunteers that made this event the successful year after year. The impact of this parade on the local economy is significant with thousands of visitors filling the streets of downtown Apalachicola as well as the local restaurants, watering holes and shops.
The Mystic Krewe of Salty Barkers is proud to announce that this year’s total donation is $23,200 ($12,000 to Florida Wild Mammal Association and $11,200 to the Franklin County Humane Society). Since its inception, The Mystic Krewe of Salty Barkers has collectively raised over $100,000 for the care of injured wildlife and homeless dogs and cats through the Mardi Gras Barkus Parade.
“Franklin County is unique with its pet friendly accommodations and alluring wildlife. We know that this area and the animals are special, and we need to take care of what is important to us. I am inspired by all the participation and support. We absolutely love hosting this event; animals and the essence of Mardi Gras – what’s not to love?” Sarah Madson, President, Mystic Krewe of Salty Barkers.
In memoriam of Jeff Dutrow, Festival Entertainer and avid wildlife supporter
apalachdogs@gmail.com
(850) 624-8085
PO Box 923
Apalachicola, FL 32329
Mystic Krewe of Salty Barkers (registration #CH50443) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Florida Division of Consumer Services by calling 1-800-435-7352 (calling from within Florida) or 850-410-3800 (calling from outside Florida). The department’s website is www.fdacs.com. Registration with the State does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State.