The 83rd International Rice Festival kicked off in Downtown Crowley on Thursday and will continue until Sunday.
The festival officially opened on Friday morning, with opening remarks by the 83rd Rice Festival President Deborah Nutt Whiting. Other events today included a Rice and Creole Cookery Contest, the Junior King and Queen Contest, and lots of entertainment.
But one of the main attractions of the day was the Children's Parade, which rolled down Parkerson Avenue this afternoon.
The parade, which started at 1:30, featured floats from schools around Acadia Parish. Floats were adorned with rice in one form or another, showcasing the city's historic industry.
This year's theme was "Rice - An International Treasure."
Serving as Grand Marshal for this year's parade was Sandra Bourgeois Dore, who said she was humbled to have been asked to serve in the role. Read more about Dore here.
The Children's Parade also featured area bands, entertainment, and the first look at the 2019 Junior Rice Festival royalty.
Crowned as this year's Junior King and Queen were Vivian Siebert as Queen and Nicholas "Shaw" Credeur as King.
The festival will continue all weekend, with lots of activities, events, and entertainment for everyone. For a full list of events and more information, visit the Rice Festival's website here.
