The 2020 Census recorded Noxapater as 420 residents with the The Biggest Small Town Mardi Gras Festival & Parade drawing at 4 times that to the town on Saturday Feb. 26.
The Noxapater Community Chamber Alliance members were hoping for a few hundred in attendance for the town’s first Mardi Gras celebration on Saturday. Despite the freezing low temperatures, the crowds turned out for the hottest time in the county.
“This is overwhelming,” Chasity Wells, one of the organizers and Director of the Noxapater Community Chamber Alliance. “This is more than we ever could have expected.”
"But this is what we should’ve expected because this is how Noxapater is." she said. "The citizens of Noxapater are always willing to come together and work for something that will be great for Noxapater.”
With Main Street blocked off for the day, Saturday's Mardi Gras parade started at 1 p.m. with the block party before and afterwards. Beads and candy were tossed from parade floats to the spectators celebrating on the sidewalks.
The parade route was the traditional route for the town similar to the successful Christmas parade. With over 35 entries in the parade, there was more than enough beads and candy for everyone. The downtown Noxapater businesses were all open and as well as a children's area with food setup before the parade. The band Deja Vu entertained the crowd for the entirety of the event.
The inaugural Mardi Gras event success may help turn it into an annual event.
“We accomplished exactly what we intended — a family-friendly Mardi Gras Festival & Parade, but only because of what we did working together,” said Wells.
Sponsors for The Biggest Small Town Mardi Gras Festival & Parade were: Winston Plywood, Frank’s Chevrolet,All Creatures Veterinary Clinic,Fair Oil Company,Liberty Bankers Insurance Group,U Store It Mini Storage, Central MS Properties, LLC,The Citizens Bank of Philadelphia, Deals of Philadelphia, and Woody’s.
