Countless spectators lined the streets of Minden on Saturday for a chance to grab some goodies from the floats that passed them by during the 23rd Annual Minden Mardi Gras/Fasching Karneval Parade.
Multiple floats, cars, golf carts, and other hard to describe vehicles rolled down the street carrying a host of characters dressed up in a wide array of colorful outfits and costumes as they hurled beads, candy, and more to people waiting below.
The parade wasn’t the only thing going on during the weekend. City ArtWorks opened its doors to let kids and their parents make Mardi Gras masks for them to take and wear to the parade. According to City ArtWorks Director Steve Wilson they had at least two hundred people, and even while saying this countless, more were still coming in. “We’ve had some awesome kids, and we even had some of the parents making masks, which is great!” said Wilson.
A judges table was set up in front of the Civic Center as the floats, bands, and marchers nearly ended the parade, where they judged the participants in the categories of Most Spirited Group, Sweepstakes Winner (Best Overall), Best Small Float, Best Marching Group, Most Original Entry, and Best Marching Band.
The winner for both Most Spirited Group and Sweepstakes Winner (Best Overall) was Krewe Des Ambassadeurs. The winner of Best Small Float was Pine Grove United Methodist Church. The winner of Most Original/Creative Float was Krewe of Nemesis. The winner for both Best Marching Group and best Marching Band were Ladies of Elegance Steppers.
“I think the parade went really well and the weather was spectacular. There were large crowds. In all the years I’ve been riding I have never seen more people up and down Elm Street. It was great,” said Mahala Hutto, Minden Main Street Director.