Mardi Gras preparations are in full swing and Acadia Parish is getting ready for the big day.
The festive Mardi Gras colors can be seen throughout downtown Crowley.
However, businesses are expecting to see even more green on Fat Tuesday.
“We see a lot of people from out of town in the downtown area which is always good for us,” business owner Samuel Reggie III said.
Reggie’s downtown is preparing to serve up drinks and food for the city’s carnival. The owner says the best part about the holiday is the crowds.
“Just the exposure,” Reggie said. “We’ve only been here for three years. Every time we have new people that come out here, they find us by walking up and down the streets.”
However, the parish has much more to offer than just beads and parades, they also celebrate Mardi Gras the traditional way.
“We actually get calls from all over the world asking what are those chicken chasings and guys riding on the horses,” Kathryn Duncan with the Chamber of Commerce said.
“That’s our traditional Mardi Gras and it’s celebrated all across Acadia Parish. In Iota, Mermantau, and Church Point. Church Point is actually one of our largest , if not the states largest traditional Mardi Gras celebration.”
From the carnival to the courirs, these attractions are an economic boost for the parish.
“These people are staying in our hotels, going to restaurants and bars to celebrate,” Duncan said.
