Magnolia will hold its ninth Mardi Gras celebration this weekend, featuring a parade Saturday and a two-day festival with rides, arts and crafts, and entertainment.
Activities begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, with carnival rides, games and entertainment on East Railroad Avenue in front of the Central House Antique Mall.
The ninth annual Mardi Gras parade line-up begins at 9 a.m. at Eva Gordon Elementary School on Highway 51, and starts at 10.
The parade route will make its way south on Highway 51 to the Bay Street intersection, then east on Bay Street to West Railroad Avenue, north on West Railroad, and then back to west to South Pike High School.
Following the parade, a ribbon-cutting will signal the grand opening of the Central House Antique Village on East Railroad Avenue.
“We will have picnic tables at the depot and the food booths will be at the other (north) end of Railroad Avenue,” said Magnolia/South Pike Area Chamber of Commerce president Jimmy Harris. “The street will be blocked off.”
Entertainment starts at noon with Static Band, and fireworks will close the first day’s activities at 6 p.m.
The festival continues at 10 a.m. Sunday, with entertainment by local gospel groups starting at 1 p.m.
“Everything is ready,” Harris said.
“Our biggest hope now is that the weather will be good.”
