Taking a look back into the history of Cajun culture, the Courir du Mardi Gras parade and annual chicken chasing ceremony, adds an element of pragmatism to the festival of letting loose.
Traditionally the Courir, French for “to run,” is the first parade of the festival and reenacts the Cajun tradition of traveling from house to house to collect ingredients necessary to make a gumbo.
The first ingredient: a live chicken.
“I got whippin’s for chasing chickens when I was young, but these chickens the kids can chase and maybe they’ll even get in the news,” said Villemez, captain of the Courir du Mardi Gras.
The first chicken release will be at 5 p.m. at Rose Hill Park and is open to all children.
Thursday’s mainstage performers will include “Longneck Road” at 6 p.m. and “Joel Martin Project” at 8 p.m.
Green Stage, located at the corner of Beaumont Ave. and Procter St., performances will include “Section 51” at 6 p.m. and “Vintage Thunder” at 8 p.m.
Tickets for Thursday are $5; Friday $13 in advance and $15 at the gate; Saturday $13 in advance and $15 at the gate and Sunday $10 at the gate.
bjanes@panews.com
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