There will be an afternoon of Twelfth Night merrymaking in Mandeville on Jan. 6 when the Mande Milkshakers lead a walking parade and family festival that kicks off the Mardi Gras season.
More than a dozen performance groups will be part of the sixth annual Mande King's Day Walking Parade at 3 p.m., culminating with a 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. festival at the Mandeville Trailhead featuring the eight-piece Brasshearts Brass Band.
The walking parade will start at the marina near Pontchartrain Yacht Club on Lakeshore Drive, then move along the lakefront, up Girod Street and into the trailhead.
Parade participants, in addition to the Milkshakers, will reportedly include the Lakeshore High School Titan Band, the Slidell Synch, Northshore Knockouts, Lollipops, Be Hooper Be Happy, Dazzling Diamond Dancers, Louisiana Ladies, the Geaux Geauxs, the sNoBalls, Ainsley's Angels, Louisiana Voodoux, Royal Legacy Dance Team and the Southern Elite Dance Team.
The festival will also include performances by some of the parade participants, and there will be King Cake, of course. Additionally, for a $20 donation, festivalgoers can eat shrimp pasta and drink cold Abita beer. For $15, get the food with root beer.