Transcript Staff

The good times will roll with the 13th Annual Norman Mardi Gras Parade the evening of Saturday, Feb. 2. The parade will kick off after sundown at about 6:45 p.m., say the parade's organizers, who say they're proud to announce Mayor Cindy Rosenthal will be this year's grand marshal. Floats, bands and revelers will march through downtown.

The staging area will be on Jones Avenue between Main and Eufaula Streets and east along Comanche Street. The parade will travel east along Main Street to Crawford Avenue where it goes south to Comanche Street and west back to Jones Avenue. The parade will complete this route twice before ending along Jones Avenue about 8 p.m.

"This is the 13th year that Norman has held a Mardi Gras parade. Last year's event was one of the largest and most colorful parades we have had," one of the organizers, Harriet Kemp, said. "We chose 'Fire and Ice' as the theme because the parade is going to be early in February and we will be featuring Norman's vibrant fire dancing community."

The parade will feature marchers including two troupes of fire dancers, jazz bands, poi dancers, an electric guitar marching band, flamingo dancers and Harleys. But there's still room for more marchers.

"There's still plenty of time to enter. We're looking for jugglers, decorated riding lawn mowers, clowns, Elvis impersonators, fat guy hula dancers, lawn mower drill teams, use your imagination!" co-chair Ed Kearns said in a press release.

"Dress as your favorite household appliance, tool, sporting equipment or flower. Parents and kids, dress as your favorite superhero and sidekick. You can be a real superhero or one you dream up." The entry fee is $13, payable at the parade.

"It's a great reason to get off the couch, enjoy some good clean fun, and chase the winter blues away," co-chair Dan Sorrels said.

"The parade is always held on the weekend before Fat Tuesday," Kearns said.

Last year's Best Float in Parade was won by the Mystical Order of le Grande Sponge from Norman Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (NUUF). The NUUF crew has issued a challenge to other churches and community organizations in Norman to build floats and enter them into the parade. "Yar! We challenge ya scurvy dogs to come parade with us. We'll shiver your timbers," pirate leader Dirty Dave Yates said.

The event also will include Civil War reenactors who plan to fire powder loads from muskets; parade staff said spectators should not be alarmed.

Animal friends are joining the fun too: Della, the African crested porcupine, and Prickles, the 6 foot tall porcupine will be there from Little River Zoo. And speaking of dogs, Second Chance Animal Sanctuary plans to be on hand with a bevy of Carnival canines.

"This year's parade will also include Doggie Gras where dogs can walk their people, so long as both are in costume. Dogs must be leashed and work and play well with others. There's a special $5 'Dog Gone' entry fee," Kemp said.

Norman's Mardi Gras Parade is based on the famous San Francisco Do Da Parade, meaning art, creativity, and wackiness are the order of the day. The parade also has a long tradition of being family friendly and will be enjoyed by kids of all ages.

In honor of the parade's esteemed founder, Jeanie Flanigan, the Grand Prize will forevermore be known as "Flanigan's Folly."

"The Mardi Gras Parade is a fabulous tradition. I'm so thrilled it has continued in such capable hands are remained true to its original vision of being a genuine community effort that can be enjoyed by the whole family," Flannigan said.

"The 26th Annual Chocolate Festival is taking place the same day from 11-3 at Norman North High School. Chocolate and Mardi Gras, now that's a great Saturday," Sorrells said.

As always, watching the parade is free. For information or to enter the parade, call Dan Sorrels at 615-5719 or Ed Kearns at 360-3279.