Krewe of Dominique Youx Festival
By William E. Males
It is that time of year again for Bay County as it’ll be celebrating its 23rd year of Mardi Gras. Now just for everyone’s information, “Mardi Gras” is French for Fat Tuesday which is the last day of revelry and heart overindulgence before self deprivation of Lent, with its 40 long days of fasting. Therefore, to compensate for the anticipated abasement, the celebration that’s famous in New Orleans, Mobile, and Galveston, is also one of our own local seasonal festivities.
Originating in our area, the celebration began twenty two years ago as The Krewe of Dominique Youx. The tradition came to Panama City in 1986 when Errol Legasse and the late Jerry Castardo decided not to miss out on the excitement of Mardi Gras and therefore formed the Krewe of Dominique Youx. Bay Country’s original organization consisted of nearly 200 members who have faithfully celebrated the festive Mardi Gras season here for the last 22 years. Since then the numbers of participants have grown radically.
Bay County celebrates the present day Krewe of Dominique Youx festival in a carnival type atmosphere similar to the other area Mardi Gras Krewes. Preparations for the Mardi Gras events started back in October with the selection of the new King and Queen. Prince and Princess were also elected and the Krewe’s royal courts are set up accordingly. The next event took place back in November with the Dominique Youx Ball, a black-tie evening celebration. Moved to Pier Park in 2009, with growing anticipation the revelers look forward to the Festival Weekend with the parade viewing and the Mardi Gras Parade on February 5th and 6th.
Traditionally the Krewe arrived for the parade at St. Andrews Marina aboard the 80' authentic pirate ship “Sea Dragon.” A 
host of Pirates dressed in vibrant costumes ride large flamboyant floats to lead off the annual St. Andrews Parade. Last year’s Dominique Youx XXII, King Rob Fernandez and his Queen, Joyce Muller, will lead the Krewe parade as golden plastic doubloons, colored beaded necklaces and other trinkets are thrown to the cheering crowds.
Once the citizens of St. Andrews experienced the thrill of their own Mardi Gras they soon formed their own Krewe, now famous as the Krewe of St. Andrews which proudly boast members of the Krewe from all over Bay County. This year’s King and Queen are Charlie and Linda Coram who with eager excitement invite everyone to attend. Since the first year the St. Andrews Mardi Gras Parade featured the Krewe of Dominique Youx and the newly formed Krewe of St. Andrews, the plans grow every year to this year’s huge multiple day festival in addition to the parade.
As always the Krewe of St. Andrews and the St. Andrews Mardi Gras’ main focus continues to be on family and the community and will be greatly reflected in the abundance of family-oriented activities such as a special “Kids’ Parade” on Friday, Feb 12th at 4:00. An additional treat will be The Pet Parade hosted by The Humane Society of Bay County with a unique parade of pets in Mardi Gras costume who will lead the Kids’ Parade this year! As always, the whole atmosphere of the Festival and Parade is the excitement and pleasure of fun-loving people of all ages.
For those wondering just what and who this Dominique Youx is, it is the nickname which Fredric Alexander Lafitte, brother of Jean and Pierre Lafitte, used. Fredric was the eldest member of the famous Lafitte family and the first of the brothers to become a buccaneer, though they all sailed the southern seas, Caribbean Coast and in the Atlantic waters in the early 1800’s plundering vessels of those deemed to be their enemies. He accepted a commission from Napoleon Bonaparte and served as a privateer for France during the war with Spain. Later when the Lafitte brothers moved to New Orleans, the charismatic Jean Lafitte successfully organized hundreds of rogues into a band of pirates who became the scourge of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
This year’s Mardi Gras celebration on Panama City Beach is anticipated to be much larger than last year’s celebration. The event will span over two days, starting the evening of Friday the 5th and continuing until midnight Saturday. Pier Park will have the streets closed and at 5 pm the festive street party begins, including live bands and entertainment, plenty of Cajun food, and decorated float tours with the tossing of beads and doubloons to the crowds. For the avid car enthusiast there is also going to be a classic car show. After the festivities the evening will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display over the Gulf of Mexico.
On the follow day, Saturday the 6th, Magic Broadcasting’s Island 106 radio personality, “That Guy Kramer” is scheduled to be broadcasting live starting at 10:00 a.m. Be sure to arrive early to get a place as the festivities kick-off with a children’s parade. Right after that begins the 2010 Mardi Gras parade at 2:00 p.m. as majestic floats make their way along Front Beach Road and through Pier Park for another full day of celebration with live entertainment, regal costumes, masks, Cajun and low-country cuisine, and much more!
Hope to see you there!
