Feathered hats, colorful beads and music blaring all signaled the weekend party had started in downtown Port Arthur Friday, where friends and family gathered to ring in the 24^th Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas.

Festive floats lined up along the seawall to be part of the Valero Krewe of Krewes Parade while others lined Procter Street to watch the parade and catch a batch of beads.

Barbara Phillips, spokesperson for the Port Arthur Valero facility, said she had lost count how many years Valero sponsored the parade, but thought it went back to at least 1995.

What she did know is Valero employees were there to have a good time, and to lead the festivities.

“Through the weekend we expect 250 employees and family members to participate, she said from the top tier of the Valero float.

Phillips and the Valero crew weren’t the only float riders who were part of the parade year after year.

“We’re here every year,” Bhavani Simon, 41, of Beaumont said. “The hats, the beads, all the friends out here. Wouldn’t miss it.

Her friend, Marie Provost, 46, of Port Arthur said it was about the 20^th year they rode on a float.

“It’s been since before the kids,” Provost said. “My son this year is a walker, and he’s 19, so we brought the next generation into it.”

Both Simon and Provost are members of the DeGroove Krewe.

Brooke Perryman, 25, of Houston and formerly of Nederland, said she came home just for Mardi Gras this weekend and to ride with friends on the Krewe de Brew float.

“It’s a bunch of fun. You see a lot of old friends,” she said.

Krewe de Brew was only organized last year, and already the membership has grown to around 40 members, Alec Bruney, 25, of Nederland, said.

Mike Broussard was in Port Arthur to pull the Krewe of Jesters float after pulling it last week in Orange, and back over the Rainbow Bridge, he said.

Lynda Bower, of Nederland, and Sharon Hartford, of Beaumont, were also part of the Krewe of Jesters float.

Bower said she keeps Broussard company in the truck and helps with navigation while Hartford rides the float.

“It’s just good decent family fund. I caught beads with my daughter for about the first 10 years then joined a krewe so I could ride the float. It’s fun both ways, but as far as throwing beads, kids love it,” Hartford said.

“Adults love it too,” Bower said.

Mardi Gras activities continue on Saturday with gates opening at 1 p.m. and closing at 1 a.m. Saturday general admission tickets for 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. is $15.

 

Activities include:

• Krewes of Royalty March, 2 p.m.
• Motorcycle Showcase Parade, 5:30 p.m.
• Total Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade, 6 p.m.

 

Saturday Main stage entertainment includes:

• Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, 5:30 p.m.
• Sam Riggs, 8:30 p.m.
• Cody Johnson Band, 10:30 p.m.