By Carmen Rodgers
Elmore/Autauga News
The City of Prattville is scheduled to present Mardi Gras on Feb. 4, with vendors opening at 11 a.m. and the parade is set to kick off at 2 p.m. in downtown.
This year’s parade will start at the corner of 4th and Court Street at the Autauga Courthouse.
“It will go through the downtown area, past all the little shops downtown on Court and Main (Street),” Manager of Cultural Arts and Special Events Barbara Simpson said. “Then it will turn right on Northington, and left on Doster Road, and ends at Stanley-Jensen Stadium.”
According to Simpson, there will be around 80 entries in this year’s parade.
“We are still taking applications for the next couple of days,” she said. This year, there will be two areas designated for vendors.
With around 50 vendors slated to attend the Mardi Gras festivities, this year’s event promises something for everyone.
“All kinds of food, cakes, crepes, hot dogs, any kind of food that you want, roasted corn, kettle corn, things like that. But we also have homemade products, our handmade body products, beeswax products and honey products. We’ve got shirts and jewelry, and all kinds of boutique like items. We will also have children’s activities,” Simpson said.
According to Simpson, vendors will be set up in various locations in the downtown area.
“We’ve got two different areas,” Simpson said. “One is over at Spillway Park, and then we have another area over in the parking lot of Partners in Pediatrics. We will have about 20 vendors at Partners in Pediatrics, then we can have more than that at the Spillway.”
The annual Mardi Gras Parade has become a popular attraction in the Prattville area. “We have really grown our Mardi Gras Parade over the past few years,” she said.
According to Simpson, some of the parade entries include local civic organizations, car clubs, media outlets, elected officials, and much more.
“We are going have some horses, the Shriners, The Prattville Pops, we’ll have the WSFA and the WAKA storm trackers and the Thunder Truck, The Way Off Broadway Theater will have an entry, and Prattville Art Guild is planning to have a float,” Simpson said.
With a large crowd expected, Simpson said arrive early and enjoy yourself.
“Come out early to help out our vendors, get something to eat, then stay for the parade and have a good time,” she said. “We love a parade in Prattville and we hope everybody will come out and enjoy it.”
Mardi Gras is one of the first events to be held in 2023, but Simpson said there’s lots more to come.
“Be on the lookout for lots more stuff to come in February and March,” she said.
For more information about the upcoming Prattville Mari Gras Parade, call 334-595-0850 or visit https://www.prattvilleal.gov/special-events/mardi-gras-parade.html?fbclid=IwAR32WPWQXRKNUe4XOMY3PQlsjsqZOy_iBpMhgS-kzhCt39jNw6xPCiOrM9Qcall
