HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Laissez les bons temps rouler, North Alabama! Saturday marks the eighth running of the Downtown Huntsville Mardi Gras parade. Organizers say the Grand Parade will contain even more beads, floats, and music than ever before.
This year's route begins at the corner of Lincoln St. and Holmes Ave., passing through the streets of downtown. A designated "throw zone" for the bead fanatics will be set up from East Side Square at Commerce Kitchen to Humphry's.
The Huntsville Police Department is assisting with traffic control and road closures for the parade, which begins at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Road closures will begin at 2 p.m. and last for the duration of the parade. All roads should be reopened by 7 p.m.
Dogs will be at the "tail end" of the parade as part of the organization's Krewe of Barkus event.
Meanwhile in Decatur, the Carnegie Carnival Parade is preparing the finishing touches for their Saturday night spectacle. A full-size pirate ship will "sail" down Bank St., complete with Crewes of all shapes and sizes.
This year's King & Queen of the Carnegie are John Allison and Ginger Vandiver. Prince and Princess are Owan Poovey and Addie Lu Nails of Decatur High School. And the pooches aren't forgotten in Decatur, either. Sir Bow Wow, Jean Claude Von Dog, and Lady Barks-a-Lot, Sugar, are also featured in the festivities.
The 6 p.m. parade is the capstone to an entire day of events in Decatur, from a children's art station to the Carnival Frolic 13.1-mile run through the historic districts and Point Mallard Park.
