NATCHEZ &045; The Mardi Gras parade must go on. That’s the official word from the Krewe of Alpheus.

Wet weather will not deter the excitement of today’s parade because there is no other day in which to reschedule it before the end of Mardi Gras.

Mimi Puddister, Alpheus parade chairman, said, the only way the parade will be cancelled is if there is a thunderstorm.

&uot;We’ve had it in the rain before,&uot; she said.

Knowing there is a strong possibility for showers, Puddister said they are just going to hope for the best.

&uot;Hopefully the weather will hold on us. Otherwise, we’re just going to get wet,&uot; she said.

The Mystic Krewe of Alpheus’ annual Mardi Gras parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. today, with lineup starting at 4 p.m. Walt Grayson, WLBT weatherman and host of &uot;Mississippi roads&uot; on ETV, will be the grand marshal.

The theme of this year’s parade is &uot;superheroes.&uot; Puddister said they picked that theme because it would appeal to children, and it seemed appropriate in a time when people are looking for superheroes due to the terrorism and turmoil the world is now facing.

Friday’s parade has about 40 entries. She said local superheroes like area police and fire chiefs have been invited to participate.

Puddister said ETV will be filming the parade because the station is running a feature about the Krewe of Alpheus.

&uot;I can’t believe it’s going to rain on their parade, too,&uot; she said.

If it does rain on today’s parade, there is still the hope that next Friday’s parade will have better weather.

Nan Garrison, president of The Krewe of Phoenix, said their Mardi Gras parade will be held at 4 p.m. Feb. 28.

The theme for the Phoenix parade is &uot;see you in the funny papers.&uot; The grand marshal will be actor, director and producer Stuart Margolin.

Garrison said they normally have about 50 to 60 participants.

&uot;We have some new floats this year, so people will see some new things,&uot; she said. &uot;We are really excited about it.&uot;

Both parades will travel the same route: Lining up on Broadway, traveling down and making a left on Canal Street, proceeding up Main Street, turning left onto Commerce Street, going right onto Franklin Street and dispersing on Martin Luther King Jr. Street.