‘Excitement is high:’ Get ready for Carnival’s second weekend
By Garrett Ohlmeyer Staff Writer
Krewes across Terrebonne and Lafourche are preparing to bring the season's second weekend of parades to the streets.
"When you attend Mardi Gras it's like attending a Broadway play," said Dennis Rodrigue, captain of Cleophas. "We're the ones putting on the show."
The krewe rolls Sunday afternoon in Thibodaux with 20 floats under the theme "Cleophas Goes to Disney World."
About a dozen parades will roll Friday through Monday, and more than half a dozen will do the same Fat Tuesday.
Authorities remind those going to the Thibodaux parades that the route is different this year. The new route starts and ends at Nicholls State University. It begins at Audubon Avenue along Menard Street and heads to Canal Boulevard, Second Street, Jackson Street and again to Canal. It makes U-turn on Canal at St. Charles Street and heads down Gerald T. Peltier Drive, ending at Martin Luther King Drive.
Officials said during public discussions last year that the new route would require fewer police officers to adequately cover the area.
"What we found is that (the route change) went fantastic," Thibodaux Police spokesman Cpl. David Melancon said. "The people seemed very pleased. They realized they had more room to spread out and set up tents, tables and chairs, and it wasn't so congested."
Originally some organizers were concerned the turn onto Peltier Drive might be too sharp for some of the floats to clear, but Melancon said no issues arose last weekend.
In Houma, Paul Chauvin, Terreanians parade captain and event chairman, said members are putting the final touches on their floats and preparing their throws. The krewe's 21 floats, carrying 445 riders, will roll through Houma Sunday afternoon under the theme "Terreanians Tells Bedtime Stories."
The Krewe of Chronos, which follows directly after Cleophas Sunday in Thibodaux, partnered with Upside Down, a local organization that helps people with Down syndrome, to honor Logan Gros, a 21-year-old Thibodaux native who will serve as the krewe's honorary captain.
"Excitement is high," said Ryan Myland, captain of Chronos. "We anticipate having great weather so everybody seems to be excited and in the carnival spirit."
-- Staff Writer Garrett Ohlmeyer can be reached at 850-1149 or garett.ohlmeyer@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @GOhlmeyer.
