GULF SHORES — Mardi Gras may be a season past, but Gulf Shores officials and residents still have its the city's parade on mind.

After receiving feedback on the Fat Tuesday parade that rolled through Beach Boulevard, the city posted a statement on Facebook, which in turn garnered another 150 comments, mostly from residents and attendees voicing displeasure at the parade size, fees and thoughts on how to make improvements.

In the post, the city attributed "new safety and insurance requirements" to an accident in the 2017 parade when several students in the Gulf Shores marching band were injured after being hit by a participant's vehicle while they were lining up, according to a Gulf Coast Media article at the time.

The 2017 parade was canceled before it rolled because of the accident.

"My kids were a part of the band hit in 2017," a commenter wrote. "… For quite a few kids, to include my youngest, that was their first and last parade to participate in because of someone's woeful incompetence and lack of situational awareness."

And many, if not all, other commenters spoke on the insurance rates but held their views on the "terrible accident of 2017."

"While I appreciate the city's newfound commitment to safety for determining parade requirements," another commenter wrote, "I do not think the 2017 parade accident should be an excuse to increase fees on the attendees."

Other commenters encouraged the city to look at surrounding cities, such as Orange Beach, Foley, Daphne and Fairhope, for how they run parades and the safety measures they implement.

"Drivers and participants should all sign waivers. All drivers should have a breathalyzer test before starting their vehicle," another commenter wrote. "… All of these will make for a safer and more affordable parade."

Several commenters suggested the city should go back to the old route along Highway 59 rather than the newer route along Beach Road as it is more difficult to get to areas along with closures for the parade on Beach Road.

A band member's mother commented that her daughter would like to "finish that parade" from 2017 on Highway 59 if the city ever returned to that route as "she's still mad that the city took that from her healing process."

Other commenters said the city "may as well just cancel" the parade altogether.

Brigette Reynolds, programs and events manager for Gulf Shores, said the 2025 parade had 15 entries. She said the new requirements were to ensure a "fun and safe parade for participants and spectators."

"(There is a) $100 entry fee, which has been the same for 20 years," Reynolds said on total costs, "plus the participant's insurance fee, which can vary from no additional expense to the cost of a specific policy, which varies."

According to the city's Mardi Gras parade rules and regulations document, all who apply for a permit must also secure "general liability insurance with $2,000,000 minimum limits" and must include auto coverage and name the City of Gulf Shores as an additional insured party. This is the only mention of insurance related fees in the document.

Other requirements concerning size of floats, use of tobacco products during the parade and parade walker safety are listed in the document. As far as what will be done for next year, the city has yet to decide on specifics as the requirements are still under review, according to Reynolds.

"I wouldn't anticipate a great deal of change because most of our requirements have to do with keeping people safe," Reynolds said.