The Knights of Cote d’Azur in Loxley or KOCA was formed in 2023 after several years of kicking the idea around, according to the founder and current President of the organization. “Loxley has grown from a town to a city and has continued to grow leaps and bounds,” he said. “The mayor came to me and several others with the idea sometime back, and we finally got to where it seemed like the right time to do it.” The President and the five or so founding members of KOCA all ride together on the same float in another long-established mystic society, so the mayor knew they were experienced enough to start a new group. This is not a splinter group, though, the KOCA President said. The founding members continue to be members in the older organization, “and we specifically have not been poaching any other members.”
The group was formed in 2023 by Eastern Shore masking veterans, largely at the urging of Loxley’s mayor. The name comes from the southeast coast of France, Côte d’Azur, which is referred to as the French Riviera; the 100 miles of coastline from Alabama to Florida is similarly named the Redneck Riviera.
Their Loxley parade route is 2.5 miles long, and the inaugural parade in 2025 had eight floats rented from the Maids of Jubilee.
2026 is only the second parade for Loxley’s Knights of Cote d’Azur. This year’s theme is “Where No Knight Has Gone Before.” On the 2 1/2-mile parade route, expect 200 members riding 10 floats, some from Craig Stevens’ Carnival Artists, others rented from Fairhope’s Maids of Jubilee, plus marching bands and other vehicles. Costumes are by Bienville Costumes.
