One didn’t need to go to the Big Easy this weekend.

The Mardi Gras festivities were brought to Monroe and West Monroe Saturday night with the annual Twin Cities’ Krewe of Janus Parade.

An estimated 10,000 people filled the parade route streets as if it was Bourbon Street itself.

Some folks even traveled from other cities just to attend.

“It’s a fun atmosphere where everyone’s happy,”  Elizabeth Lee, a sophomore biology major, said. Lee attended last year’s parade, and she said that her most anticipated moment is always the elaborate floats.

“You can tell they put a lot of effort and time into making them, ” Lee said.   

The majority of the floats were pirate themed. One of the boat-shaped floats, named the USS WHO DAT, covered the sky in beads as they were thrown to the crowd.

Another float wasn’t a boat but a train. The train was fully covered in decorative lights and was one of the biggest floats in the parade.

ULM’s float featured Miss ULM Sarah Torregrossa, 31 Ambassadors, SGA and mascot, Ace – who entertained the crowd with dance moves.

Ace wasn’t the only one dancing.

People close to the local DJ booths and live bands downtown couldn’t help but dance to all the Mardi Gras classics and today’s party hits.

Benjamin Lee, a freshman computer science major, said for him Mardi Gras is all about having fun.

“This is a time where we can all enjoy the culture of our state,” Lee said.

Nicole Craig, a sophomore health studies major, said it was her first time attending such a big Mardi Gras parade.

“As a Catholic, the Mardi Gras holiday is very important to me,” Craig said.

Saturday night’s Twin Cities’ Krewe of Janus Parade was an evening where everyone could let the good times roll.