NATCHEZ — Area Mardi Gras krewes will roll the party through the Miss-Lou beginning next week with four parades.

The Krewe of Natchez Indians’ “Rhythm of the Night“ parade is first up at 6 p.m. Friday in downtown Natchez.

The third annual parade will be bigger than last year and will feature 16 floats and at least six bands, including Alcorn State University’s marching band.

“(The parade) has grown tremendously since last year,” organizer Robert McNeely said. “We are kind of known as the party krewe, and we like to have a good time, and a lot of people have gotten interested in what we’re doing.”

WLBT anchor Katina Rankin will be the parade’s grand marshal.

The parade will start on Broadway Street, turn on Canal Street, go up Main Street down to Rankin Street, where it will take a left then go down Franklin Street back to Broadway Street.

Anyone interested in participating in the parade should call McNeely at 601-392-3087.

The Krewe of Vidal will bring their “Party Time on the River” to Vidalia at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The parade is in its third year and will feature at least 10 floats.

Line-up will begin at 1 p.m. at Vidalia Upper Elementary School and roll down Carter Street.

During the parade, traffic on Carter Street be rerouted, organizer Cassandra Lynch said.

The parade will feature the Vidalia High School band, the Krewe of Lake St. John and is also looking for veterans to participate so they can be honored, as well as community organizations.

The parade started as something fun for Vidalians to do during Mardi Gras, Lynch said.

“It’s something we just started just to be doing something, and each year, it gets better and better because we have much support from city officials and the police department who are willing to jump in and assist us,” Lynch said.

“It’s all about fun and safety.

Krewe of Vidal T-shirts are available through Southern Designs, and Friday is the last day to place an order, Lynch said.

Centreville Community Youth Parents will host its first Mardi Gras parade at 1 p.m. Feb. 22.

Spots in the “Let the Good Times Roll” parade are still available, and participants can ride floats, four-wheelers or other vehicles, organizer Maria Montgomery said.

No pre-registration is necessary, but a $25 entry fee is required.

Montgomery said the group was looking to host a positive activity for the community to participate in during Mardi Gras.

“We’ve never had anything before and we’re just trying to get the community together and do something positive,” she said.

The group will also host a semi-formal ball at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Centreville Civic Center on Main Street.

The Krewe of Phoenix parade will be the last — but largest — to roll in the area.

The “Prom Night” parade will begin at 5 p.m. Feb. 28 and caravan more than 30 floats through downtown Natchez.

The parade will line up on Broadway Street, and no non-parade parking will be permitted throughout the day.

The parade will go down Canal Street then up Main Street to Rankin Street then down Franklin Street back to Broadway Street.

For a small town, the parade is a big time, organizer Curtis Moroney said.

“It’s one of those neat things about living in Natchez,” he said. “For a small town, we have a good time … but it’s not anything special if you don’t come see it.”

Anyone wishing to enter a float in the parade should call Moroney at 601-445-2475. Pre-registration is required, and trophies for first, second and third place parades are awarded by a panel of judges.