Natchitoches Krewe of Dionysus’ 2024 Mardi Gras parade had to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Never ones to let a meteorological annoyance stop the fun, the Krewe regrouped, donned kelly green in place of Mardi Gras regalia, and presented Natchitoches’ first St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 16. It was to prove a resounding success!
The Krewe of Dionysus was joined by royalty from the Krewe of Excellence, the sharp youngsters of the Weaver Elites, local dance schools, area businesses and numerous officeholders and candidates. The Lakeview High School Junior Air Force ROTC Color Guard led the parade.
The parade route went from South Drive through Williams Ave and across the Church Street Bridge. The route was lined with cheering families who were treated to a prodigious number of throws of beads, candy, and small toys from the floats. A small band of NSU students with a tuba, drums, saxophone, and horns entertained the crowd along the route, often stopping for an impromptu concert along the way. In a fun bit of serendipity, the parade emerged into the St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl as it crossed the Church Street Bridge, bringing an extra bit of fun to both events. The Krewe of Dionysus St. Patrick’s Day parade was quality family fun.
