NATCHEZ — The Krewe of “Good Times” rolled for its first time in the Krewe of Phoenix Mardi Gras Parade Friday evening.

When the Dart landed on Broadway Street Friday, the Krewe of Bon Temps with its membership of nearly 40 women, 38 and counting, was loading up the float with fresh beads bought straight out of New Orleans, Krewe President, Lauren Guedon said.

“Four or five of us got together about six years or so and it was always a dream of ours to get a krewe together and rolling,” Guedon said. “…We started last year with 30 members and this year we’ve added eight more. We got the float from the coast, pieced it all together. … This is our first year to ride, which is really exciting.”

In actuality, krewe finally got its start during a sad time in Guedon’s life, she said.

“I lost my 4-year-old son (Charlie) in a farming accident last year and we started a scholarship fund in his name. That has become our purpose,” she said.

Guedon said the group started fundraising or the Charlie Guedon Memorial Scholarship fund and gathered donations from all over the community to give to a deserving Adams County Christian School senior.

True to its name, the ladies get together a handful of times throughout the year and simply have a good time, Guedon said.

Krewe member Katie Gibson said the krewe emerged in its first Natchez parade experience during the Christmas parade last December before finally joining the line-up at Mardi Gras Friday evening.

“We’re just a group of ladies who are just having fun,” Gibson said.