Vicksburg’s 11th annual Mardi Gras parade will return to Washington Street this year, despite an earlier discussion of possibly moving it to Cherry Street.

Main Street executive director Kim Hopkins told the Board of Directors Tuesday that she will meet with Vicksburg police chief Walter Armstrong and workers from the city’s street department to discuss keeping the crossing streets along the parade route open until just before the parade starts, at 4 p.m. on Feb. 18.

In December, the board discussed changing the route because of complaints last year from Washington Street merchants who said barricades, which were installed at 8 a.m. and removed at 4 p.m., were kept up too long and prevented customers from reaching stores and restaurants.

“Anything that will keep the traffic flowing as long as it can will be good,” said Highway 61 Coffee Shop owner Daniel Boone. “I understand the need for the barricades, but last year, they kept them up too long.”

In other action, the board:

• Received an update on Main Street’s office on the third floor of the old Levee Street Depot. Hopkins said she toured the third floor, adding that she believes Main Street might be able to move in by late February or in March.

• Discussed the annual meeting, which is expected to be in March. A date and location have not been selected.

• Discussed the Vicksburg Farmers’ Market. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen last week approved advertising for a market manager and assistant manager. Both jobs are part-time and are paid through a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant.

Kristen Meehan said she is meeting with city IT director Billy Gordon about the market’s website.

• Approved travel for Hopkins and Meehan to attend event and festival training sponsored by Mississippi Main Street and the Mississippi Art Council in Bay St. Louis on Tuesday.

In related matters, the board approved travel for Hopkins to go to Washington, D.C., with the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce and city and county officials in February, and approved travel for Hopkins and a board member to attend the national Main Street Convention in Baltimore in April.

• Discussed the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi state convention in Vicksburg, Feb. 2 – 5.

• Discussed “To Vicksburg With Love,” — Four Seasons of the Arts, Feb. 14 at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center; Hit the Bricks, March 8; and Riverfest, April 20 – 21.