With a grand parade, carnival rides, vendors and more, Texarkana celebrates Mardi Gras today downtown at Front Street Festival Plaza.
The grand parade starts at 3 p.m., while Mardi Gras 2018 also presents a parade for pets and children starting at noon. As of Friday, the total number of grand parade entrants stood at 63, with about half of that number being floats.
The grand parade starts at Broad and Front streets, rolls down Front, turns on Broad and cruises up State Line Avenue before hanging a right on Fifth Street and then another right at Hazel Street to complete a loop with most entries parking at the festival plaza to finish. The parade for kids and pets will stay in the festival plaza.
After the grand parade, a street dance with live music will run until the event ends at 6 p.m.
Festivities start at 10 a.m. with 50 vendors. Stilt walkers, street performers, food vendors, a harmonica player and a magician all add to the festive environment. Derrick Keener will serve as emcee. The carnival rides started early, offering rides the past two evenings. When it comes to food, expect to find everything from po' boys to king cake, fried pies to nachos and corn dogs.
There's a chance for rain today, but organizer Deanna Monroe O'Malley said the plan is to go forward with Mardi Gras celebrations rain or shine.
"We don't plan on cancelling with rain unless safety becomes an issue," O'Malley said.
For updates, check out the Mardi Gras Texarkana 2018 event page on Facebook.