LOREAUVILLE — It was a short and sweet Mardi Gras celebration Tuesday afternoon in Loreauville when the village’s Family Affair parade moved along Main Street. 

The parade, affectionately known as the Papa Red Dog Parade, started at 2 p.m. with Loreauville residents setting up chairs, barbecue pits and trucks on each side of the street. The parade lasted less than an hour, with an assortment of floats, tractor trailers and horse riders the parade is traditionally known for. 

The length of the parade was a little shorter than previous years, something that organizer Mike Sorrell chalked up to weather concerns. 

“A lot of people dropped out because we didn’t know what the weather was going to be,” Sorrell said. “But it still turned out great.”

Despite those concerns, it was a perfect day to catch beads and eat good food in celebration of Fat Tuesday. 

Attendance for the parade was as high as ever, however, which no doubt was due to the fact other local parades — like the Krewe of Coteau and Cypremort Sippers — were cancelled because of weather concerns and low participation, respectively. 

The local parade, which began nearly 20 years ago, was founded by the Papa Red Dog Association. It is always met with a great deal of enthusiasm from Loreauville residents. 

The event originally started as a trail ride but eventually turned into a full-blown parade for area residents, a true community event.

“It’s a good family parade,” Taylor Latiolais said while waiting for the parade. 

The closing of the parade signalled the end of another Mardi Gras season in the Teche Area. 

The Bayou Mardi Gras Association started festivities in early January, and other parades have been rolling since. 

The only other parade in Iberia Parish on Tuesday was the Grand Marais Mardi Gras Association’s annual parade near Jeanerette.