Children’s run, boucherie, more live music today in Eunice

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The Mardi Gras celebration continues in Eunice today with a children’s run, boucherie and more live music on 2nd Street.
The events kicked off Wednesday night with the seventh annual Taster’s Choice fundraiser for the Eunice Community Health Center. (Turn to Page 2 for a story and photos from the Taster’s Choice event.
The live music on 2nd Street started at 7 p.m. Friday with Wayne Toups and will continue through Tuesday.
The children’s run will organize at the Eunice Recreation Complex at Sittig Road today. The run will arrive in downtown Eunice at about 3 p.m.
On Mardi Gas, the adult Eunice Courier de Mardi Gras will assemble beginning at 6 a.m. at the Northwest Community Center.
Pat Frey, Courier de Mardi Gras capitaine, said up to 55 trailers are allowed in the run, which draws about 1,000 participants.
Last year there were 250 horses in the run, he said.
Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot said given the weather forecast he expects a record crowd Tuesday.
Frey said there is nothing new planned for the run this year, which fits with its traditional nature of masked participants making a rowdy run through the country.
“You are supposed to go into the countryside and play havoc in costume with people knowing who you are,” he said.
The participants will be reminded to wear their masks when encountering people, he said.
As for the expected warm weather, Frey said that often slows the runners down.
“It kind of slows them down,” he said of the mix of warm weather and beer. “I’ve seen it.”
During Mardi Gras events traffic will be blocked from the downtown area, he said.
Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said motorists should not block driveways and if they do, the vehicle will be towed.
The police chief also urged people to lock their vehicles and not leave any valuable items in view.
Mardi Gras schedule
Sunday
At 9 a.m. the Children’s Mardi Gras run will leave the Eunice Recreation Complex at Sittig Road.
The Little Mardi Gras run will meet at the Eunice Recreational Complex at Sittig Road in Eunice with sign-in for all pre-registered children at 7:30 a.m. Late registration will be 8 until 8:30 a.m.
The run will leave the complex at 9 a.m. There will be a lunch break at noon at the recreational complex. Registration provides lunch and a snack for the children. Parents will be able to purchase lunch at the stop after registrants are fed. If in your own truck, ice chests are allowed.
The Little Mardi Gras run will parade through Eunice beginning on North Second Street at 3 p.m. today.
At 9:30 a.m. there will be an Old-Time Boucherie, downtown at city hall parking lot area.
At 10 a.m. at Fred Charlie Music Stage, at South 2nd and Walnut, Ryan Simon & Acadien will perform.
At noon LaRecoulte will perform.
At 4 p.m. Bubba Hebert & New Morse Playboys will give a performance.
At 3 p.m. the Children’s run will arrive downtown Eunice.
Monday
At noon, Dr. Barry Ancelet will have a presentation of the “History of the Rural Mardi Gras” athe Prairie Acadiana Cultural Center.
From 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Northwest Center, 501 Samuel Drive, Council on Aging will have its annual Mardi Gras Dance.
At 6 p.m. the Pine Leaf Boys will perform at the Fred Charlie Music stage, at South 2nd and Walnut.
At 9 p.m. Travis Matte & The Zydeco Kingpins will give a live performance.
Mardi Gras
The adult Mardi Gras run will leave at 8 a.m. at the Northwest Center. Registration begins at 6 a.m. with registration fee of $30.
Trailers will be limited to 40, with 16 Association trailers, on a first come first serve basis. A fee of $30 per trailer will be charged. Drivers on the run cannot consume any kind of alcoholic beverages before or during the run.
Runners will register the morning of the Mardi Gras run at Northwest Center. Current proof of insurance is required on tow vehicles, with trailers must not exceed 20 feet. No portable toilets or runners will be allowed behind trucks. Trailers must have 3-foot wall around the front and sides of the trailer.
Gumbo will be served for all runners from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Northwest Community Center.
For more information, call the Mayor’s office at 337-457-7389.
At 9:30 a.m. at the Fred Charlie music stage, Wallace Trahan & Rice-N-Gravy will give a performance.
At 11 a.m. Ronnie Matthews & Throw Down will perform.
At 1:30 Paul Daigle & Cajun Gold will perform.
At 4 p.m. Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys will perform.
At 6:30 p.m. Leroy Thomas & The Zydeco Roadrunners will perform.
For more information, call City Hall at 337-457-7389.