The fourth annual Krewe of Mary Lou: The World's Shortest Mardi Gras Parade is set for 2:23 p.m. Sunday on Elm Street between Jefferson and Washington Avenues.
"It's going to start at 2:23 p.m. and it'll be over by 2:25 p.m.," laughed El Dorado Councilmember Mike Rice, who is also the owner of fayrays restaurant.
The parade is being held in honor of Rice's daughter Mary Lou, who passed away in 2016 from a drug overdose following a 10-year battle with opioid addiction. She was 26 and living in New Orleans at the time.
Out of the sadness emerged a desire to commemorate Mary Lou's life with a festive event, explained Rice.
"We're Cajun, so we turn everything into a celebration," the New Orleans native said.
Rice first publicly shared his testimony about the loss of Mary Lou during a city council meeting in January of 2018.
As a former law enforcement officer who once headed up the 13th Judicial Drug Task Force, Rice said he saw firsthand the devastating effects drug addiction could have on families. As a parent, the words he had used to try to comfort other families became personal.
He said two friends who witnessed the difficulty he was having in coping with the loss of Mary Lou suggested a parade in her honor. The first parade was held in 2017 and it brought a bit of Mardi Gras flavor to south Arkansas.
The time of the parade, 2:23 p.m., marks Mary Lou's birthday, Feb. 23. Rice noted that the parade will fall on the birthday of its namesake this year.
A gumbo cook-off has traditionally been held in conjunction with the parade. Gumbo was Mary Lou's favorite food, Rice said. Proceeds from the cook-off have gone to Union County Animal Protection Society (UCAPS) in honor of one Mayr Lou's favorite causes: animal rescue.
Rice said plans have not been finalized about a cook-off this year because he is not sure how many teams will enter the competition.
Inclement weather put a damper on the 2018 and 2019 parades but Rice said he is hoping for clear skies Sunday. He encouraged the public to attend.
"It's goofy but its fun. It'll only last about 10 minutes but there's a lot of great throws. You can catch lots of beads," he said.