I have participated in many parades in my lifetime, but never one like the parade I was in today! Today was the first day of Mardi Gras, and the refuge was participating in a local parade in the small town of Ocean Springs, MS.
All the floats, bands, etc. began lining up along the bay shortly after 10:00 this morning, even though the parade didn’t begin until 1:00. The set up area was shrouded in fog, but that was a good thing. It kept the temperature down. The forecast was for a nice warm, sunny day.
We had the bay and bridge to Biloxi on one side, and a large residence on the other. Folks had started to line the parade route many hours before the parade was to begin.
Our crew began to assemble our float, and put on Mardi Gras attire. Every one of the 80 some floats had loud music blasting from huge speakers. I don’t know much about Mardi Gras, but apparently one of the traditions is to consume large amounts of alcohol, and many participants and observers were busy partaking. We, of course, were in government vehicles so our beverage of choice was chilled water. Boy, did we need it by the end of the parade!
All up and down the shore everyone was getting their rigs ready for the parade. That includes getting the huge supply of beads and other trinkets ready for throwing out to the crowd.
We put on our hats and masks and got our beads ready. Our own special Mississippi sandhill crane also practiced her Mardi Gras dance steps. :) It turned out that the parade route was about three miles long! By the time the parade began, the sun was blazing down, and after about a mile, I had to take off the mask. I was sweating bullets under the sun, and believe me, it was a work out tossing all those beads and other trinkets. I certainly got my bending down exercises taken care of today.
The crowds lining the route were enormous for a small town! And they are very insistent about receiving the freebees we were tossing. At one point, we had to stop for a few minutes, and the crowd surged toward the float and began reaching in and grabbing things off of the float and tow vehicle. Unbelievable! They’re plastic beads, for Pete’s sake, and it was the adults doing this! One guy even came up to me to plead that his poor mother couldn’t make it to the parade, but she loved frogs and could I give him some beads with a frog for her? I’m telling you, it was a little bazaar. As you can see, quite a few folks were decked out in unusual attire as well. I guess this revelry will go on until Fat Tuesday at parades all over the area. I’m thinking maybe one of these Mardi Gras parades was enough for me…
Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later, Judy
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One can never too many Mardi Gras beads!! I was at a Mardi Gras party a couple years ago and kept winning beads, by the end of the night, I could barely hold my neck straight from the weight!! LOL
ReplyDeleteNever really had a desire to do Mardi Gras. The cold water sounds a lot better to me. Great pictures though. We went to a parade last week-end and the people were much better behaved.
ReplyDeleteI spent a working week staying in a hotel in the Old Quarter of New Orleans during Mardi Gras one year. It was very loud, lots of drunks, and elaborate parades each night. I was in my 30's so it was quite a bit of fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm waaay past the age where I would enjoy that type of fun, and never really had a desire to attend Mardi Gras. At one time I thought I might like to see Carnival in Rio, but that would probably be 10 times worse, and I'm glad I didn't.
ReplyDeleteLooks like everyone had a lot of fun at the Mardi Gras parade. I've never been to one so I have no experience to offer!
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought that your nature-oriented volunteer job would include participating in a Mardi Gras parade--mask, beads, costume, and all! (Did this count toward your 32 hours?) :)
ReplyDeleteGuess we're just not party/parade type people over here at the Bayfield Bunch. Maybe a whole bunch of years ago but preferences change thank heavens & a parade of ducks would be more to my liking these days.....:))
ReplyDeleteI like to enjoy my parades from a distance ... preferably on TV. I like the colorful floats well enough, but the crowds - ugh! And in the heat - double ugh!
ReplyDeleteHow fun Judy!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that Judy. Don't want any part of it. That's why I'm thinking we might stay in Texas an extra week so we can reach Louisiana when all that is over. All the pictures were great though.
ReplyDeleteLast year at Hickiwan Trails, they had a one truck parade through the park...What a hoot! The owner and his wife decorated their truck, threw beads and hats and trinkets at us all..then everyone went up to their home and had a huge feed outside...all courtesy of Hickiwan Ray and his wife...What fun!!
ReplyDeleteYour experience sounds like LOTS of people were there....Yes, the people of the deep South really "do it up right" for Mardis Gras...!!
Does your parade escapade count as volunter hours? You sure are having fun at "work"!
ReplyDeleteI think I would have to pass also.
ReplyDeleteNow we would enjoy a Mardi Gras parade. Don't think I'd be grabbing beads off a stopped float though, that is a little over the top. Parades like this are great people watching events. :)
ReplyDeleteDon't know about that. But is sounds like crazy fun to do once!
ReplyDeleteHave never had the opport to participate in Mardi Gras, but I've seen the pics on TV...there are some wild & crazy people out there. Don't understand the thrill/need/want of plastic beads -- just don't get it! As usual, you got some great pics:)
ReplyDeleteAt least you can now say you were in a Mardi Gras parade. I have been to several in NOLA and there is no doubt that alcohol is a big part of the process. It can be tough to watch sometimes, unless you are in the same condition as most of the celebrants.
ReplyDeleteIt is something to see once or so, but watching so many people exercising poor judgment so happily reminds me to much of our Congress :)
Aw gee, a small-town Mardi Gras parade would be a hoot! Years ago our office building was connected to a Wyndham Hotel and then shopping center from the Wyndham. They put on a Mardi Gras mini parade, complete with beads and floats. Such fun! Of course, I have a dear girlfriend who is from Louisiana, so I have been exposed to such goings-ons. Don't like huge crowds, so will pass on the New Orleans celebration, but on a small scale . . fun! To each their own, tho'. It's the last make-whoopee prior to Lent, hence the partying. Hope this counted towards your volunteer hours! :)
ReplyDeleteI remember the Mardi Gras parade we went to last year and we still have the beads. They are fun to watch and be in. You're right, folks go crazy over the beads...go figure.
ReplyDeleteAt least now you can say you have been in one!
Take care and be safe.
I'm with E Squared and Mui...watching on TV is fun but heat and crowds...not so much! Loved looking at your photos...you're a real trooper!
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