MS Black Spring Break schedules most events in Gulfport, still plans Biloxi beach party

Mississippi Black Spring Break is holding events in Gulfport in April but organizers still plan a party on the beach after Biloxi’s new special events committee denied a permit.

The Biloxi Council was to hear an appeal to the permit denial Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. The applicant asked that it be delayed until the April 2 meeting at 6 p.m., said Council President Dixie Newman.

Biloxi Council adopted special events ordinances over the last year to require more security and financial responsibility from event sponsors.

The event has been promoted since the beginning of the year and organizer Nick Brundige said, “They’re going to show up regardless” of whether the city denies or allows the permit.

“We are not here to antagonize the City of Biloxi or the City Council,” he said. They just want everyone to be fair, the organizers said.

“Everything they asked for we’re doing on our end,” he said.

Biloxi denies permit

Biloxi Council’s new event ordinances were debated for months after a Coast police officer was one of five injured in a shooting on the last day of spring break in Biloxi.

Biloxi’s special events committee met March 5 on an application filed by Nicholas Brundidge and Rondale Joyner to use property known as the “Shular Lot” at 2450 Beach Blvd. during spring break.

The committee notified the applicants March 8 that their permit was denied.

The city said the applicants filed an appeal March 11, but Brundige said they asked for a permit to allow amplified music on the beach and not for the parking, which was rented by someone else.

The city provided a list of reasons why the permit was denied:

▪ No written authorization of the owners of the lot in connection with the event

▪ The applicants did not provide a sufficient parking plan and traffic plan

▪ The applicants did not provide an adequate security plan based upon the historic size and violence during spring break events in previous years

▪ The time and size of the event will substantially interrupt traffic flow

▪ The concentration of people and vehicles at the site of the event will prevent proper police, fire or ambulance services to areas near the event

▪ The size of the event will require diversion of so great a number of police officers to ensure that all participants stay within the boundaries of the event or to protect participants and the remainder of the city

Spring break events on the beach in Biloxi for 14 years, Brundige said, and the beach is open to the public. They filed a permit with the Harrison County Sand Beach Authority immediately after the last spring break, he said.

Organizers met with Biloxi and several other police officers across the Coast on Feb. 22, the appeal said, and parking was one of the chief issues. The parking lot they want to use for parking is in the same area of the Biloxi beachfront where the shooting occurred at the last spring break.

Spring breakers have rented vacation homes, booked flights and hotels, “and are ready to spend money on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as they are excited to enjoy the place we call home ...” the letter said,“... but we feel they are not embraced with same warmth and exuberance as other events on the Coast brings.”

What’s happening in Gulfport

A post on Facebook with the schedule shows twerk contests and parties are scheduled April 11-14 at Club 34, Empire Sports Bar, Elaine’s Lounge and other bars and venues in Gulfport.

Tickets are on sale for of these several events:

▪ April 11 — Welcome Fest at Club 34 in Gulfport

▪ April 12 — Juumpoff Day Party starts a noon at Empire Sports Bar, Gulfport

Bounce Fest & Jump Off Party at 9 p.m. at Club 34 Latino, Gulfport

▪ April 13 — Party at Club 34

After Party at Elaine’s Lounge The Place to Be, Gulfport

▪ April 14 — R&B Brunch at The Almanett Hotel and Bistro, Gulfport

R&B vs. Trap at Empire Sports Bar

Donkmaster car show at Gulfport Dragway

Black Beach finale at Club 34

The schedule also lists the Biloxi beach party on Saturday, April 13.

A Mississippi Spring Break Concert with a different promoter is scheduled April 13 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

Some of these events have been held in past years in Gulfport but didn’t draw the crowds that showed up on the beach in Biloxi.

For this year, “No permits or applications have been filed for events in Gulfport during the week of spring break,” said Police Chief Adam Cooper.