Let the good times roll! The second annual Krewe de Guard Mardi Gras parade will take place Feb. 19 at 4:30 p.m. in downtown Russellville.

The theme for this year’s parade is “Make a Difference.” Proceeds will benefit the Russellville Public Library. A crawfish boil will be held at El Buen Sabor after the parade.

The first parade was held in 2020, with no parade in 2021 because of COVID-19 precautions.

“Our first parade was such a success, and we have plans to make each year’s event bigger,” said Anna Carol Porter, Krewe de Guard founder. With Krewe being an environmental club, the parade carries with it a green focus. “In 2020 we worked with Treevotion.com to have 20 trees planted in the Amazon and 12 trees planted in California to assist with fire relief. We are in the process of organizing something similar this year.”

Additionally, rules for the eco-friendly event include no motorized vehicles, live animals or floats with plastic. Beads should be recycled from previous events and saved for future events.

Line-up will begin at 3 p.m. by the Canteen, and all participants must be checked in no later than 3:45 p.m. Entry fees are $10 per person for ages 16 and older and $5 per person for ages 15 and younger. Group rate for 10 or more participants is $50.

Every participant must sign a liability waiver to participate. Donations can be made payable to Friends of the Russellville Public Library.

Katernia Cole Coffey is this year’s grand marshal. The parade queen is Patricia Cox, and the parade king is John Pilati.

“It’s an honor to be selected as the grand marshal,” said Cole Coffey. “I am most appreciative to Krewe de Guard for putting the parade on. They are helping to make a difference in the community by providing a fun activity that will also help raise money for a worthwhile cause. I hope to see a lot of participants and spectators.”

Lela Wright Ray, library board chair and grand marshal of the first parade, said she is looking forward to seeing the parade resume this year.

“The Russellville Public Library Board is so thrilled that the benefits from the proceeds will once again be given to our small-but-efficient media and community event center,” Ray said. “The Board is looking forward to working with Mayor Grissom and the city council to plan an even larger facility in the future.”

“We had a blast at the last parade,” said library director Ashley Cummins, “and the library is extremely excited that Krewe de Guard has decided to host the parade again this year and to make the library the recipient of funds raised. We are incredibly grateful to every organization that supports the library and to the community members that show up to support the event and the library.

“We hope to see everyone there as we continue this fun tradition.”

For questions related to this event, contact Porter at 256-668-2830.