VIDALIA — The Krewe of Vidal will continue a tradition for the third year in a row that organizer Cassandra Lynch said makes Mardi Gras even more enjoyable for her.

“We are always the last one to start (work on) our float, and it just kind of became a tradition for us,” Lynch said. “We always start it the day before the parade and work up until the last minute.

“I think the pressure makes it fun for everyone.”

Lynch and other members of the krewe will lead the first Mardi Gras parade of the Miss-Lou at 2 p.m. Saturday. The parade theme is “All about you.”

The theme, Lynch said, speaks to the importance the krewe places on the parade being a family friendly and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

“When you participate in our parade, we want whatever you’re putting into the parade to represent you and not anything else,” Lynch said. “That way, people aren’t putting so much importance on the theme, and they can just be themselves.

“As long as everyone has fun, that’s all we care about.”

The parade will feature a number of other floats from different krewes including the Krewe of Lake St. John, local businesses and the City of Vidalia and Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The newest krewe rolling Saturday, Lynch said, will feature a number of Ford Mustang cars traveling together to form the Krewe of Ponies.

Line up for the parade will be at 1 p.m. near Vidalia Upper Elementary School.

The floats will travel onto Carter Street until reaching Vidalia High School and continue onto Concordia Avenue back to Vidalia Upper.

Carter Street will be blocked off from 1:45 to 3 p.m.

For more information on the parade or to get involved, contact Lynch at 318-518-7656.

While the Krewe of Vidal will be the first to roll on either side of the river, the Krewe of Indians will mark the first parade in Natchez 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1.

This year’s theme is, “Welcome to Hollywood” and participating krewes include, among others, the Krewe of Lake St. John, the Krewe of Fat Mamas, the Krewe of Mayhem and the Krewe of Ice Queens, organizer Robert McNeely said.

McNeely said his main goal in the parade’s second year is to continue to provide spectators with an entertaining show they will enjoy.

“Since we’re still kind of new and green to the parades, we just really want to make sure the public understands that we’re going to continue doing this parade for years to come,” McNeely said. “Our goal is to attract people to town for the parade and then keep them here the whole weekend to do other things.”

The parade route will start on Broadway Street and turn onto Canal Street by Rosalie.

From there, the parade will continue on Canal Street until taking a right onto Main Street and heading up to take a left on Commerce Street.

The parade will finish its route coming down Franklin Street.

For more information on the parade or to get involved, contact McNeely at 601-442-4350.

The last krewe rolling through Natchez will be the Krewe of Phoenix parade at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8. It will bring South American flavor to the Miss-Lou with the theme, “Carnival.”

“Hopefully some of the floats play to that theme, and we’ll see some interesting decorations,” parade chair Curtis Moroney said. “I think it could be fun if people play along to the theme.”

The parade route will start on Broadway Street and turn onto Canal Street by Rosalie. After that, the parade will continue on Canal Street until taking a right onto Main Street and heading up to Rankin Street.

The parade will finish its route coming down Franklin Street.

Moroney said he always looks forward to seeing the creative designs.

“Some of the newer groups have put together some really nice floats,” Moroney said. “Now we just have to hope the weather plays along.”

For more information on the parade or to get involved, contact Moroney at 601-445-2475.