Avoyelles Mardi Gras events listed

   Mardi Gras season is underway and local events have been scheduled as follows:

    The first event of the 2016 Mardi Gras season in Avoyelles Parish will be the Krewe of Cronus Mardi Gras Ball sponsored by the Bunkie Chamber of Commerce. The event will be held at Haas Auditorium  Saturday, January 30, beginning at 8 p.m. The Chase Tyler band will provide the music for the evening.

    Tickets are $40 per person. There are tickets still available for sale. Call the Bunkie Chamber of Commerce office at (318) 346-2575 for more information on buying tickets. 

    Krewe of Cronus Ball Chair-man Marjorie Melancon said 14 young ladies will be honored as the debutantes of the Krewe of Cronus this year. The debutantes are Kaylie McCoy, Riley Foreman, Abby Mitchell, Rachel Luneau, Haley LaPrairie, Emily Prudhomme, Cailey Cole, Ellie Tassin, Katelyn Baronne, Emily Arnaud, Kelsey Coulon, Madison Hukins, Annie Gremillion, and Madeline Earles. 

    They will be formally presented at the ball. They will wear white formal gowns and be escorted by their fathers.

    Following the first dance with their fathers,  all attending will participate in a “Second Line” dance. 

   The  auditorium  will  open  at 6 p.m.  Dress for the ball is party attire with coat and tie required. No one under 21 will be admitted.       Attendees must have a ticket to enter and the doors will be closed at 8 p.m. during the presentation.

    This will be the Chamber’s 12th ball, which is held every two years.

 

   The Rotary Club of Avoyelles celebrates carnival season with the return of its annual Krewe of Cyllenius parade, Sunday, January 31, at 2 p.m. Line up is at 1 p.m. behind Red River Grill. 

    There is no fee to enter the parade, which is open to local organizations, marching bands, businesses and individuals.

    The Krewe of Cyllenius stipulates that all entries  must be made with the intent to entertain and celebrate the local French heritage and Mardi Gras culture. 

    All floats must have safe and appropriate “throws” and participants are encouraged to wear masks and costumes. Candy is typically not thrown in Mardi Gras parades. 

   Float height should not exceed local power lines and the length of float should be able to turn corners on the route. Because of the distance of the parade route, 2.2 miles, children under 12, should not be part of a marching band unit.

   To enter the parade or for more information, contact  parade committee chairmen Van Roy, 240-3495 or John Ed Laborde, 253-6403 or  vanlroy@bellsouth.net for a parade entry application.

 

    Plaucheville Elementary School will host a Mardi Gras parade Thursday, February 4,  at  1 p.m.

  The parade route will begin at Plaucheville Elementary, continue to St. Joseph School and the Plaucheville Plaza apartments before returning to at Plaucheville Elementary. 

  Plaucheville Elementary students are selling raffle tickets.  The boy and girl selling the most  tickets will be the Mardi Gras king and queen for the parade. Runners up will be members of the royal court.

For more information call (318) 922-3311.