The Bayou Mardi Gras Association will roll on February 9 in New Iberia. It’s their third year back in the city after the parade was canceled. The president of the crew Patrick Norris, tells News 10 there was a lack of participation in the past, but that’s not the case anymore.

They are now seeing more parade goers than ever. It could be because people are coming from neighboring city’s where their own parades have been canceled. 

“We have thousands that come out. Even last year with the cold weather it was moderate we still had a decent turnout. We provide security throughout the entire parade route. We have security, we have lighting everywhere,” says Norris. 

Growing concerns about security have forced other neighboring communities to cancel their annual parades. St. Martinville’s Newcomers parade was canceled in 2016. Members have tried to bring the parade back over the years. Today a crew member told News Ten there’s no word about a parade for this year. The city of Baldwin canceled their parade last year after a deadly shooting happened at a parade in Jeanerette. 

“I have gotten inquiries from those other surrounding communities because like you said they don’t have a grade anymore. So it’s just gonna help build ours,” says Norris.

The crew plans on seeing record numbers in attendance this year. “To my knowledge as of now, we are still the first parade of the year. So we started things off.”