Eunice Mardi Gras

The Mardi Gras is “looking good” said Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot.
“We are just praying for some good weather, but rain or shine it is going to go on,” he said.
The mayor said he isn’t worried about the crowds showing up.
There’s a 40 percent chance of rain Friday, but nearly 100 percent chance that Wayne Toups is going to perform at 10 p.m. at the stage at Walnut and 2nd streets.
The Eunice Mardi Gras draws a crowd each year because “it is original and very unique like none around,” Fontenot said.

The Mardi Gras party in Eunice went by relatively free of any serious crime, Police Chief Randy Fontenot said.
There were a couple of incidents, he said. Two women got into a scrap, an intoxicated driver was involved in a hit and run Saturday and there was fight after 9 p.m. Tuesday, he said.
One guy, described as “high intoxicated” by arresting officer Sgt. Nicholas Cooley, was caught inside a Coca-Cola truck parked near the fire station on Park Avenue at about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The first chicken offered to the Eunice Courir de Mardi Gras was tossed into the air by Dale Soileau and from there the run was on.
That chicken took off tailed by a scattered gang of colorful human runners around and around the north side of the Northwest Community Center at about 9 a.m. Tuesday.
After evading the human runners, the chicken ran into the Northwest Community Center where it was captured by Logan Manuel of Eunice.
The Eunice Mardi Gras will celebrate its 100th year next year, but Captaine Pat Frey said is probably older than that.