Small town Mardi Gras, the photos

I realize that you don't really care about how many beads I caught (was thrown to...some even hit me on the head).
Here are the photos of the actual parade. Nothing like the great big New Orleans Mardi Gras but a nice small town parade.

It started with the sheriff's car, police, fire engine, ambulance with all sirens blaring. That totally reminded me of the Canada Day parade in Dawson, Yukon.

Here are some random pictures of some of the floats. It was actually a fairly big parade.

People picking up goodies after the last float went by and before the next one.

Political correctness has reached this part of the world yet.

Of course Elvis was there.

A little girl on one of the float as she gets ready to throw more beads to the crowd.

and it ended with a brassband.

It was very much a small town thing. I am sure that in New Orleans and Baton Rouge and all those big towns the parades are quite different but I didn't want the super polished big town thing, I just wanted to see what the regular people of Louisiana and Mississippi do. i say "Louisiana and Mississippi" because I had to cross the river to Mississippi State to go to the parade, this is where it was tonight.

You see the colours of the last float, just above the brassband, and the first float after the police cars. Green, purple and gold are the traditional colours of the Mardi Gras festivities. Apparently purple is for Justice, green for Faith and gold for Power. the kings cake (which is only eaten on January 6th in France, but from January 6th to Mardi Gras here) is also traditionally decorated with sugar in these three colours.