The annual Mardi Paws Parade celebrated its 30th anniversary Sunday afternoon in downtown Covington. The parade featured hundreds of dogs, one cat, and a nutria.
Well over a thousand people lined the streets to enjoy the parade. Here are some photographs. Click on the images to make them larger.
The Krewe of Bogue Falaya revived an old Carnival tradition in Covington on February 12, 2024, with the Grand Marshal arriving by boat coming up the river to great fanfare.
Krewe Parade Captain Larry Rolling met Grand Marshal Grayhawk Perkins at the boat launch, welcoming him to the city and presenting him with a special official sash. Then the crowd of over 200 people joined him in a festive second-line procession up New Hampshire Street to the Southern Hotel where refreshments and king cake were served. The group was accompanied by live music and the dancing Lollipops.
The special Lundi Gras event was a revival of a previous tradition where parade royalty were brought up by boat and docked at the Columbia Street wharf.
Here are some pictures of the today's newly-minted event, 2024 style. Click on the images to make them larger.
Grand Marshal Grayhawk Perkins
Large crowd waiting for the boat to arrive.
The special guest slowly advances up to the dock.
He is greeted by a cheering crowd.
And the band played rousing Mardi Gras music
Local news media were on the scene to record his first words.
Parade Captain Larry Rolling welcomes Grand Marshal Perkins
He receives his special sash.
He is officially invited to lead the procession to the Southern Hotel. In the first decades of the 20th century, over 100 years ago, the Southern Hotel played a key part in area Mardi Gras celebrations.
Let the music play and the special second-line procession begin.
Led by a "Lundi Gras" banner.
Hundreds of people took part in the celebration
The crowd gathers at the entrance of the Southern Hotel for greetings by Parish President Mike Cooper and a proclamation by Covington Mayor Mark Johnson
Mike Cooper toasts the Grand Marshal
Mayor Johnson, at left, prepares to read the proclamation
The official sash
Many families turned out for the special occasion
Mayor Mark Johnson was on hand at the boat's arrival. He's at left with Jimmy Nelson at right.
Here's a video of the day's activities.
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Over 100 years ago, this was the scene when Carnival royalty arrived at the Columbia Street Landing in Covington. The Bogue Falaya River was dredged to accommodate larger boats back in those days.
