Grand Parade of Cotton information

The Louisiana Cotton Festival’s Grand Parade of Cotton has been scheduled for 12 noon Sunday, October 24. Lineup will begin at 10:30 a.m.
Registration for the parade is at city hall in Ville Platte with Katherine.
Fees will be assessed as follows:
•state politicians, $120
•local politicians, $75
•dance groups, $30
•walking units, $30
•trailers, $30
•cars and trucks, $30.
There is no charge to enter the parade for homecoming courts and bands. No four-wheelers, horses or motorcycles will be allowed. Only Tournoi horses will be allowed in the parade.
As in years past, we are asking all persons to remember they are guests on the property of the businesses around the parade lineup. Please bring trash bags to dispose of trash properly.
Lineup will follow with:
•Floats along Main Street between Dupre and Thompson.
•Marching bands, dance groups and walking units in the parking lot of Mikey’s Donuts. No vehicles will be allowed in this parking lot, except for those doing business with Mikey’s. Please stand to the side to allow business to continue.
•Cars/trucks (without trailers) and authorized motorcycles will assemble in the parking lot at Investar Bank.
•Trucks with trailers will be lining up along S. Dupre St. (This is the street next to the empty lot on side of the library.)
•Tournoi riders and horses will assemble in the parking lot of the Girls and Boys Place (the old Heritage Manor) and along S. Thompson St. and W. Main St. No one else will be allowed on this lot.
No traffic will be allowed to travel down Dupre Street through the intersection of Main Street and down Main Street, between MacArthur and Dupre streets during lineup. There will be no exceptions, and parents should remember this when traveling down one of the side streets among participants lining up for the parade. There are young participants in this area, and an accident could easily occur. Please be careful and if you choose to enter this area, use extreme caution. You should also consider you will have to leave your car there until the parade begins or you will have to back up.
Participants entering the parade area should utilize Magnolia Street.
Remember, no trail riders, four-wheelers or motorcycles will be allowed, unless approved by the Louisiana Cotton Festival Board.
Look for the parade organizers at the corner of Dupre and Main Streets if you should have any questions.
Payments may be dropped off at city hall with Katherine no later than Friday, October 22, at noon, or can be mailed to 1293 Lee St. Ville Platte, LA 70586. Make checks payable to LA Cotton Festival, and there is a $25 fee for NSF checks.
For more information, contact Kelli at 831-3340 or Katherine at city hall.
Police officers will be in the area to assist with traffic. Residents are encouraged to use Lincoln Road between Tate Cove and MacArthur to travel from one end of the city to the other.