Thousands downtown for parade|[02/18/07]

Published 12:00 am Sunday, February 18, 2007

&#8220Beads, beads, beads,” the crowd roared as thousands lined Washington Street before the Sixth Annual Downtown Vicksburg Mardi Gras Parade.

Floats, decked out in seasonal regalia – everything from crawfish and alligators to masks and confetti – came parading through downtown Vicksburg just after 2 Saturday.

Cousins Taylor Johnson, 6, and Aaliyah Johnson, 4, were right in the middle of the action for their first-ever Mardi Gras parade.

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&#8220We’re catching beads,” Aaliyah yelled as beads flew overhead.

The sunny skies and temperatures in the high 50s certainly were a factor to people coming out in droves.

&#8220There were probably twice as many as last year because it rained last year,” said Vicksburg Main Street assistant director Erin Hern. &#8220It was windy, but good. It’s a very family-oriented atmosphere.” About 1,000 attended last year.

Fourteen-year-old Zoe Kinsella of Vicksburg and her friend, Emily Hurtt, 13, from Terry, were sporting a sign for their favorite country group, The PovertyNeck Hillbillies. The band performed at Friday’s Fun Country Night and stuck around to lead the parade as grand marshals.

&#8220I’m in love,” Zoe said.

Krewes from the 35 floats threw handfuls of goodies to the bead-hungry crowd.

Eighty-eight-year-old Mary Helen Sultan was one of the many revelers who collected a mountain of beads that she piled around her neck.

&#8220I just love it all,” she said. &#8220This is really exciting.”

Watson Davenport, 6, was in the spirit of Mardi Gras with a mask that covered most of his face and a spiky purple, green and gold hat. His get-up was similar to that of his grandfather’s, David Haworth.

The two of them were counting on a full shower of beads from the Flower Center float, on which Haworth’s daughter and son-in-law were riding.

&#8220I’m ready,” Haworth said before the float neared his family’s chosen hot-spot.

The Krewe of Danny Hearn Trucking, one of two pirate ship floats, had a cannon that shot confetti into the crowd as it cruised the 11 blocks from Belmont to Jackson streets.

The effect landed the krewe a first-place for Best Business float.

Some floats had people grooving to festive songs, such as &#8220Mardi Gras Mambo.”

Other floats were adorned with festive tinsel, balloons and people throwing everything from beads to T-shirts and candy.

Mardi Gras, a literal translation of &#8220Fat Tuesday,” ends the festival season before Lent, which begins Wednesday with Ash Wednesday and marks the period of fasting before Easter.

But, for 13-year-old Andrew Holmes and 11-year-old T.J. Ramshur, who came dressed in king’s hats and a feather boa, the festive holiday means one thing.

&#8220It’s all about having fun,” T.J. said.

While he didn’t think to bring a bag for the throws he caught, he had a plan.

&#8220We have pockets and necks,” he said.

Parade winners were: