PARADING YOUTH

Head Start class gets in sweet festive spirit

BY RANDY LOUIS, THE DAILY IBERIAN

Three- and 4-year-old students who attend Head Start in Iberia Parish have been planning and preparing several weeks for the 66th Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival and Fair.

And to get the students prepared for this week’s activities the New Iberia Head Start held a Sugar Cane Festival Parade Wednesday for students and their parents from throughout the parish to help celebrate this year’s Sugar Cane Festival.

About 150 parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles got to see the students participate in this year’s parade, along with local high school bands and dance teams.

Edel Deal, family and community partnership associate, said this year’s parade was all about the boys and girls getting ready for the 66th annual Sugar Cane Festival and having fun.

“This year we had a lot of participation from parents, students, and different communities in Iberia Parish and I think today’s event was really successful,” Deal said. “I believe now the kids are ready for this year Sugar Cane Festival and this year’s parade had to be one of the best.”

Students Dillion Louviere, 4, and James Varnado, 3, attended the parade on Wednesday on the campus of New Iberia Head Start.

“I am having a lot of fun here today at the parade,” Louviere said. “This was my first parade and I like music the band is playing.”

Varnado said he enjoyed the lights on the fire truck.

“I have been to several parades before in New Iberia, but I have not had as much fun like I had today,” Varnado said.

Parents Gwen Thomas and Jerry Samford also said they had a good time at the event.

“As long as the kids are smiling and they are having fun then I am happy,” Thomas said. “What else can you ask for the weather is beautiful, the kids are having fun, and it’s Sugar Cane Festival week.”

Samford echoed Thomas’ comments.

“This is my first time coming to a parade over here and I must admit it was nice,” Samford said. “My son Eric had fun, I had fun and from the looks of things his classmates are having fun.”