MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – Meridian’s downtown will transform into a Mardi Gras celebration Saturday, with a parade, live music, food vendors and a dog costume contest headlining the festivities, according to this year’s Mardi Gras King and Queen.
Jeremy Sollie, marketing manager at The MAX and an active member of Young Professionals of Meridian, and Elizabeth Williams, events and studio manager at The MAX and organizer of the annual Sipp and Savor festival, were selected as the 2026 Mardi Gras King and Queen for their efforts to drive people and activity downtown.
“This Saturday, February 7, the Mardi Gras parade will be downtown,” Sollie said in an interview with Queen City Newsfeed. “The event starts at 11 a.m. with a dog costume contest. Food vendors will be set up starting at 11, and at noon the Krewe of Barkus will lead the parade. All the dogs will lead the parade floats. There are about 30 floats, and we’ll be on the parade in the trolley.”
Live entertainment will follow the parade. Williams said Epic Funk Brass Band is scheduled to perform at 1 p.m., followed by DJ Garrett Ip at 3 p.m.
Williams said being selected as queen is both exciting and meaningful. “We were selected for driving people downtown, which is exciting and kind of an honor,” she said. “I’m real proud of my little Sipp and Savor — Meridian’s largest annual downtown festival — that has people coming from 17 different states every year. That’s pretty cool for little bitty Meridian.”
Paradegoers can expect traditional Mardi Gras throws, including beads and Moon Pies. Sollie added that Williams will have a special throw of her own.
Williams said she and Sollie will also be giving back during the parade. “We’ll be throwing out four free Sipp and Savor tickets,” she said. “They’ll be free general admission tickets, which include all the samplings from the chefs, the live music and the drinks.”
Both emphasized Meridian’s growth and expanding event scene. Williams, who moved to Meridian from Birmingham, said the city has changed significantly in recent years.
“Meridian actually is cool,” she said. “In the past 10 years or so, it’s really grown. We have a lot of really cool events happening. That whole idea that there’s nothing to do in Meridian — no más.”
Food trucks will be set up on the City Hall lawn starting at 11 a.m. and will operate throughout the day. Williams said attendees can expect king cake, crawfish and favorable weather, with forecasts calling for sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s.
“All free — the only cost will be food vendors,” Sollie said.
As the city prepares for the celebration, Williams summed up the spirit of the day: “Laissez les bons temps rouler.”
