Harlan Kirgan
The Eunice Mardi Gras wrapped up with a big finish for the courir and the downtown street party.
Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot gushed that Mardi Gras 2017 was the best ever as he surveyed 2nd Street Tuesday afternoon following the parade.
“This has been the best Mardi Gras I’ve ever seen in Eunice,” he said.
“It has just been awesome. It has been a very well-behaved crowd. I think it is the best Mardi Gras we’ve had by far,” he said.
There is no official crowd count, but Fontenot estimated there 3,500 attending the Friday night session of live music from the Fred Charlie Music Stage at 2nd and Walnut streets.
“Today, you could probably double that at least, if not more,” he said Tuesday.
Eunice Police Randy Fontenot said there were no major Mardi Gras problems for police as of Tuesday afternoon. Police had conducted an operation against under-aged drinking on Friday and given summons to 11 people.
The mayor said the police and city workers had done their jobs.
“We get people from all over,” he said. “I’ve heard nothing but compliments. I’ve very proud of every single person who put any kind of effort in making this one of the best ever.”
The city budgets $40,000 to put on the Mardi Gras party and it was obvious Fontenot thought it was worth the price. However, that budget item may not matter.
The city picked up enough donations and the sale of items such as T-shirts and the boucherie to cover its costs, he said.
“From the restaurants, not just downtown, they had their best nights in years,” he said.
“The businesses in Eunice benefit from this. You are going to see a spike in the sales tax,” he said.
“Three-quarters of the crowd aren’t even Eunice people,” he said. “I guarantee I know everybody and at least three-quarters of the crowd aren’t from Eunice.”
Pat Frey, Eunice Courir de Mardi Gras capitaine, said there were about 1,100 people register for the 12-mile run. There were about 250 horses and 40 trailers, he said.
“It went pretty well,” he said.
There were no accidents and only a few scuffles as the Mardi Gras made its four-hour trip from the Northwest Community, through the country and back to the 2nd Street parade.
Temperatures were around 80 with mostly cloudy skies through most of the day.
“I can honestly say this is the biggest event Eunice has. I’m proud to be a part of it and I thank everybody who supports it,” Frey said.