NATCHEZ — Even though it’s been a warm winter, the air had a seasonal nip to it Friday evening. The cool weather didn’t keep the people of the Miss-Lou from showing up at the first Krewe of Natchez Indians parade, though.

Just as it was the first time for the Natchez Indians to host the night parade, it was LaShonda and Warren Brown’s first time to attend a Natchez Mardi Gras parade. Warren said he’s been to parades in New Orleans, but not in Natchez. LaShonda, likewise, said she’s lived in Natchez her whole life and never made the event.

“We just wanted to come out and see,” LaShonda said. “My husband came home from work and asked if I wanted to come, and I said, ‘yes.’”

Curiosity had gotten the better of them, Warren said.

“We just wanted to come out and enjoy the festivities,” he said.

As the parade approached, the Browns moved closer to the street to better observe and try to snag a few beads.

Down the sidewalk from the Browns, Brodie Lemaster, 8, of Vidalia, could hardly stand still.

“

What I am excited about is that I get to get a lot of beads,” he said.

Lemaster was confident in his bead-catching skills, and he said he was willing to share if other parade-goers weren’t as good at catching the objects flung from parade floats as he was.

“I will keep some and maybe donate some to people who don’t catch some,” he said.

Six-year-old Ben Forman, of Clayton, was planning to catch a lot of beads to share with his family. He would need to catch a lot, Forman said, if he was going to share with both of his parents, a brother and a sister.

But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to keep a few beads for himself, Forman said.

“I will have to keep them from my little sister,” he said. “But if she asks me for some I will probably give her some.”

Children and adults alike cheered and clamored for tokens as floats carrying — among others — Bug Busters, Ice Queens and Indians rolled by. Dancers and marching bands helped enhance the festive atmosphere.

Afterward, Beverly Gremillion of Natchez said she used to ride in the parade, but she enjoyed watching it from the sidewalk this time around.

“The costumes were really something this year,” she said.

The Krewe of Phoenix parade will be Feb. 17.