For the 46th annual Run Thru History, runners and walkers are getting a little lagniappe.

Race director Phillip Doiron said organizers are taking advantage of a rare confluence of events — and a busy schedule in the city — to add a Mardi Gras twist to one of Vicksburg’s biggest community events.

Winners will still receive the coveted cannon trophies, but each participant in the 10-kilometer run and 5-kilometer race walk will also receive a Mardi Gras medallion as part of their goodie bag.

Overall winners will get a giant set of Mardi Gras beads as well, and gumbo will replace the traditional spaghetti on the menu at the packet pick-up party the night before the race.

The Run Thru History is scheduled for Saturday, March 1, at 8 a.m. in the Vicksburg National Military Park, and will be the first of several big events in Vicksburg that day. The city’s Mardi Gras parade is at 4 p.m. and a gumbo cook-off is at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center from 5 to 7 p.m. Doiron was excited to be the opening act.

“This year the Run Thru History is the Saturday before Fat Tuesday, so we are putting a Mardi Gras theme into the race. We’re trying to get people to spend the day in Vicksburg for those events,” he said. “We’re touting it as a unique opportunity to have a family-friendly fun day in Vicksburg.”

Doiron added that the Mardi Gras theme will be unique to 2025. The Run Thru History is held the first Saturday in March each year, but the Mardi Gras holiday floats around the calendar. Mardi Gras will not fall in March again until 2030.

“It’s a one-off,” Doiron said. “Unfortunately, Mardi Gras is not at the same time every year. So we just took advantage of it this year.”

The Mardi Gras lagniappe is not the only new twist for this year’s race. A new course — or rather, a return to an old one — is also being introduced.

The race will follow the short North Loop and then the South Loop of the Vicksburg National Military Park’s Tour Road, and begin and end in front of the visitor’s center. It’s a similar route to the original layout that was used for more than 30 years, minus a finishing stretch down the Frontage Road.

“It’s the original course, as best we can, while staying in the Park,” Doiron said. “It is what we call the traditional Run Thru History course.”

The VNMP’s Tour Road will remain open during the race. Doiron said extra volunteers will be on hand to help runners and driving visitors watch out for each other.

“We’re going to place extra people out there because we’re going against traffic. We’ll have more of them in the blind spots,” Doiron said.

As usual, the lead-up to the Run Thru History will begin the night before the race, Friday Feb. 28, at the Hampton Inn at 3330 Clay St. Runners and walkers who have already registered can pick up their race packets from 4 to 7 p.m. and enjoy some gumbo along with their other goodies.

Raceday registration goes from 7 to 7:50 a.m. near the VNMP visitors’ center, and the race starts at 8 a.m. sharp with a volley of musket fire from the park’s staff.

Runners and walkers can register early by going to runthruhistory.org or at the Vicksburg YMCA at 267 YMCA Place off of East Clay Street. The registration fee is $45 for the 10K run and 5K race walk, and $20 for the children’s 1-mile fun run.

The Run Thru History was started in 1980 and is approaching half a century as a signature Vicksburg event. The Vicksburg YMCA has organized it since 2010. Doiron, who is the YMCA’s executive director, said it’s a tradition he’s proud to uphold.

“We’re one of the longest continually-run races in Mississippi. I grew up with this race. It’s been part of the fabric of Vicksburg for decades. It’s not just the race. It’s an event,” Doiron said. “It’s just something great for our community.”