The Welsh Mardi Gras Association is kicking off their 4th annual Mardi Gras celebration Saturday with a chicken run, parade, street dance and more.

Welsh Mardi Gras Association member Chelsea Duplechin says the family friendly event has grown every year with more participants, parade goers and events each year. This year’s festivities include a gumbo cook-off.

“We welcome everyone to come out and have a good time,” Duplechin said. “We love seeing everybody out there enjoying themselves.”

Festivities begin at 8:30 a.m. with a ride through the countryside to dance and chase chickens.

“My favorite part is riding the floats, but I am a horse person,” she said. “To me, I enjoy meeting everyone and seeing all the wagons and horses. Every year it seems like we get more and more horses. Last year we had almost 80 horses and wagons. The year before we had 30 or 40, so it gets bigger each year.”

The run will start with krewes floats lining up on East Frontage Service Road, north of Interstate 10, before continuing down Adam Street where the krewes will meet
revelers on horseback and in wagons at Sportsman Park to continue their ride.

Three stops are planned along the route including a lunch break between 11-noon at the corner of LeBlanc and Abell Road where a chicken throw will be held.

The group will return to town in time to line up for the parade at 3 p.m. The parade will roll at 3:30 p.m. along North Adams Street (also known as La. 99) and continue down South Adams Street ending just before U.S. 90.

“Anyone is welcome to ride in the parade, except for dancers because of the horses,” Duplechin said.

There is no cost to enter the parade, but participants are urged to email Welshmardigras@gmail by today, Feb. 2 to pre-register.

A street festival featuring vendors and food trucks will open at 10 a.m. downtown. Vendors will be selling t-shirts, jewelry and other crafts. Food trucks and vendors will also be selling carnival type food including frito pie, hamburgers and more.

New to the festival this year will be a chicken and sausage gumbo cook-off. Cost to enter is $25 per team. Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place. Entry forms are available by emailing Welshmardigras@gmail.

Live music and a street dance begin at 3 p.m. downtown.

Blake Pickle will take the stage noon-3 p.m. with Ashton and James Dupre performing 4-8 p.m.

West South Street will be blocked off for the festival.

Admission is $5 per person for adults with children 12 and under free. Proceeds from the festival benefit local charities.

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For more information email Welshmardigras@gmail.com or message them on the Welsh Mardi Gras Run and Parade Facebook page.