Cold weather didn’t chill residents and visitors from turning out Saturday for the 19th annual Minden Mardi Gras/Fasching Parade.

The Krewe des Ambassadeurs float rolls through downtown Minden Saturday during the 19th annual Minden Mardi Gras/Fasching Parade. Bruce Franklin/Press-Herald
“The weather was perfect Saturday and Minden families were out in full force.” Main Street Board President Terry Gardner said.
The Krewe des Ambassadors royalty walked thorugh the streets of downtown dazzling festival goers with their glitzy back pieces before the start of the parade.
The Johnson Brother’s Carnival was also set up downtown Friday and Saturday
The parade, which takes a different route than other parades, rolled down Elm Street, turning on East and West and headed through Minden’s Historic Residential District before hitting the brick Main Street and wrapping back around to Broadway and ending back at Elm Street.

The Minden Civitans float rolls through downtown Minden Saturday. Bruce Franklin/Press-Herald
Residents along the parade route set up grills and fire pits making it a night of festivities.

Grand Marshal Miss Minden Macey Colvin throws beads to parade goers in downtown Minden during Saturday’s Mardi Gras parade. Bruce Franklin/Press-Herald
Miss Minden Macey Colvin as Grand Marshal led the parade –which had more than 70 entrants – along with the Krewe des Ambassadeurs, Krewe of Akewa and the Krewe of Artemis.
“This was one of Minden’s largest Mardi gras parades. We had everything from large floats to hover boards.” Gardner said. “A large time was had by everyone that attended. Minden is truly a town that loves a good parade.”