Crew of Neptune seeks city support for Smoke on the Coast barbecue tied to Cruisin' the Coast

Representatives of the Crew of Neptune and the Trident Foundation told the council they will host Smoke on the Coast, a barbecue event coordinated with Cruisin— the Coast, and requested city assistance with logistics including barricades, lighting and staging.

Kenny Foreman, representing the group, said the event will bring professional pitmasters and local volunteers, and that organizers plan to prepare and donate nearly 900 meals during the weekend for volunteers, dignitaries and crews. He said proceeds will fund the Trident Foundation—s disaster-relief efforts and local charitable work.

Foreman estimated event attendance could be roughly 10,000 people during the weekend and asked the council to coordinate with police and other departments on event tiering and crowd-management needs. Council members asked organizers to work directly with the police department on event categorization and staffing so the department can assess officer needs and determine whether the event qualifies as a higher-tier special event for additional resources.

The council discussed typical special-event permitting procedures and the need to confirm the scope, crowd projections and logistics so staff can assign resources. Police and staff told the council that event organizers should provide a detailed event plan, including staging and crowd-control needs, to complete permit review and staffing assessments.

Why it matters: The event will coincide with a major weekend for tourism in Biloxi; city-provided barrier and public-safety support will affect staff workloads and potentially local traffic management. Organizers said the event will raise funds for local disaster-relief efforts.

Next steps: Organizers will submit event details and coordinate with the Biloxi Police Department and relevant city departments to finalize permits, staffing and in-kind support.