After a successful inaugural run earlier this year, the Bayou Mardi Gras Association is ramping up for its 2018 Mardi Gras Parade to take place in downtown New Iberia. 

“It’s happening a little earlier this year, and we want to remind people so we can pack Main Street,” Mike Wattigny, one of the organizers, said Saturday afternoon.

The parade plans to set the wheels in motion at 6 p.m. Jan. 13. Association Vice President Beau Beaullieu said the decision to hold the event on a Saturday was an effort to increase the economic impact the parade has on downtown businesses. 

“When we witnessed the large crowds of people along the parade route, we knew that we wanted to give our local business more of an opportunity to take advantage of the parade,” Beaullieu said in a prepared statement. “We want people to come out early and stay late in downtown New Iberia. We encourage our shops and restaurants to be a part of the festivities. What better way to take advantage of our newly recognized Historical District.”

There was no Mardi Gras parade in 2016. That ended a run of 26 consecutive Mardi Gras parades in New Iberia.

The association was formed in late 2016 to fill the void left by the retirement of the Krewe of Andalusia as the organizing body of New Iberia parades. Local civic leaders Pat Norris, Beaullieu and Mike Wattigny spearheaded the current project to much local acclaim. 

The parade still has floats available if a group, business or Mardi Gras krewe is interested in signing up for their own. For more information on the parade, visit the official Bayou Mardi Gras Association website at www.bayoumardigras.com or call Norris International at 367-2844.

So far, Wattigny said there are 17 confirmed floats for the parade, plus a few surprises that the association will be implementing for the event. 

“We had 19 floats last year, so we feel pretty confident so far,” Wattigny said.