Mardi Gras Preview Parade Comes to Bowl Week on December 26

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The Walk-On’s Independence Bowl Mardi Gras Preview Parade is set for Wednesday, December 26 at 6:00 p.m. and will feature more floats and positions than ever before.

The Mardi Gras Preview Parade will feature 40 positions, over 15 floats, classic cars and hot rods carrying VIPs provided by the Red River Hot Street Hot Rod Associations, Duke University and Temple University marching bands and spirit squads, nine veterans, the Twin City Knockers, Women Helping Other of North Webster, Peppermints, and the El Karubah Shrine. Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar and the Louisiana Office of Tourism have brand new floats built by Kern Studios and Mardi Gras World. The Mardi Gras Preview Parade will be the debut of both floats.

The Grand Marshal of the parade will be world-renowned Chef John Folse, who will be riding in the pot in which he will cook the World’s Largest Pot of Gumbo. Also riding in the parade will be Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar founder Brandon Landry, Wally the Walk-On, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, ESPN talent, Independence Bowl Foundation Chairman Trey Giglio, the Captain of Captains Tracy Herrin, and members of the Fisher House Foundation. The participating Krewes will be Krewe of Gemini, Krewe of Highland, Krewe of Atlas, Krewe of Excellence, Krewe of Sobek, Krewe of Elders, Krewe of Nemesis-Webster, and Krewe of des Ambassadeurs.

The Mardi Gras Preview Parade will start at the Louisiana Boardwalk Outlets, turn at Bass Pro Shops and cross the Texas Street Bridge into downtown Shreveport. It will then continue down Texas Street and turn right at Louisiana Avenue. The parade will turn right at Fannin Street before ending in the Red River District. The parade will be viewable from many of the 10 locations on the Pub Crawl, which kicks off the Rally on the Ted at 5:00 p.m.

Riders will offload in the Red River District, while the two marching bands will line both sides under the Texas Street Bridge for the Pep Rally and Battle of the Bands. The Block Party, featuring a free concert from up-and-coming country band Parish County Line, will conclude the Rally on the Red Festivities on December 26.

The 43rd edition of the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl will be played on Thursday, December 27 at 12:30 p.m. between the Temple Owls and Duke Blue Devils. Tickets are on sale at WalkOnsIndependenceBowl.com or by calling the bowl office toll free at (888) 414-BOWL.

ABOUT THE WALK-ON’S INDEPENDENCE BOWL:

The Walk-On’s Independence Bowl is the 11th-oldest bowl game, set to play the 43rd edition of the game on December 27, 2018 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Walk-On’s Independence Bowl enjoys primary conference agreements with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC), as well as backup agreements with the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and Conference USA (C-USA). The Walk-On’s Independence Bowl and Independence Bowl Foundation are prevalent in the Shreveport-Bossier City area throughout the year, hosting events to help enhance the economic impact and growth of our community. For more information, visit WalkOnsIndependenceBowl.com or follow the bowl on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @IndyBowl.