By Robby Osborne
It’s been close to 20 years since Clarendon held its first Mardi Gras Parade, but no one knows for sure, as “it’s origins are lost to the murky depths,” according to Matt Hussmann, Executive Director of the Clarendon Alliance.
With the festive-freezing snowstorm putting the original March 4 plans on ice, the Fat Tuesday parade has been rescheduled for 8 p.m. on March 17, more affectionately known as St. Patrick’s Day.
This is not the first year the Mardi Gras parade has been rescheduled. In 2010, the parade transferred holidays to become the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, but this year, a Mardi Gras theme remains triumphant.
Fortunately, a vast majority of floats and participants remained available with the change in holidays, and registration for the parade was extended until March 12. Hussmann states that the new additions have balanced out the few drop outs, and that “we should have roughly the same sized parade as last year.”
The Clarendon Alliance does not regulate holiday celebrations, and allows participants to change or keep their decorations as they see fit.
“I’m expecting that some people will change up their themes,” said Hussmann. “Everybody’s got their beads, so there will be throws.” He also said he expects those who haven’t changed their themes will put a bit more green on their floats in celebration of the day.
The parade is expected to last an hour, and will run on Wilson Boulevard starting at North Barton Street and ending at North Danville Street. While snow is expected for Monday, it’s not predicted to be anywhere close to the 8 inches that cancelled the parade on March 4. Hussmann said he thinks the parade will go on as planned.
“It’s going to be a fun night to be in Clarendon.”
