Many Sugar Parade spectators Sunday afternoon said they could not remember seeing so many horses in the annual procession and some even said they had no idea there were so many horses in the Teche Area.

Almost 100 horseman showed up to ride their animals in Sunday’s parade, this coming after a ban on the parade element was proposed late last week by the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival and Fair Association, which was met by an outcry from another association formed at the last minute to fight for inclusion of the horses.

The Louisiana Sugar Cane Horseman Association found common ground with festival officials and law enforcement Friday afternoon, ultimately allowing area horsemen to ride in the parade.

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Before the parade began to roll, Sheriff Louis Ackal said “this was their (horsemen) test to see if they could act appropriately.”

“We’re not going to tolerate anything less,” he said.

State Rep. Taylor Barras, D-New Iberia, festival organizer, who has been involved 26 years with the Sugar Cane Festival and Fair, said the parade also had a record number of entrants. Barras said there were 100 floats, at least a dozen more than last year, unusual for a non-election year, he said.

It is always a good time for Louisiana politics, however, as U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-Metairie, facing a tough Senate race next year against U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, rode a tractor in the parade.

Barras also said this year’s festival was a peaceful one based on his reports from the sheriff.

Ackal said there was only one incident over the weekend — bottle throwing on Hopkins Street that smashed some cruiser windows and injured at least one officer.

Overall, Ackal called the festival “quiet and successfull.”

Debra Savoie, vice-president of the Lydia Cancer Association, said the group has rode in the parade every year for the past six as a way of showing thanks to the community for its support of the Lydia Food Fest.

“We’re having a great time,” Savoie said as she and her colleagues sat waiting for the parade to get under way Sunday. “It’s a little hot, but it’s beautiful weather, a blessing since we all thought it would rain all weekend.”

 Kimberly Johnson Nagle, treasurer and “cheerleader” for South Louisiana Community College student government, said riding in the parade was a great way to get the word out about the school located near Acadiana Regional Airport.

This was the first year the school had representation in the Sugar Cane Festival and Fair’s largest parade.

“We can only hope people will see our sign and come and check out the school that everyone seems to forget about,” she said.