Mardi Gras is definitely growing by leaps and bounds here in Eunice. Every year the number of riders have grown by the hundreds. Anyone who has had any doubts about that statement must have been definitely astounded on Mardi Gras day. The days registrants continued to arrive until there were more than1,300 riders registered for the annual run. The final total of participants registered for the days the run was 1,380, by far the greatest amount ever in Eunice, surpassing last years total of 925. This years total was an astounding total of 325 more than last year. Runners again came from all over the United States and many many more from other countries. There were also runners from almost every part of Louisiana.

     Everyone on the run was mostly well behaved. The riders returning from the countryside were very colorful in thier traditional and not so traditional Mardi Gras costumes. They were all having a blast throwing beads and trinkets to the crowds. They were dancing in the streets and also dancing atop their horses and on wagons. Some riders were seen carrying live chickens they caught on the route as they returned from the run. Many of the participants that weren't riding horses were riding in wagons and flatbed trailers. There were Cajun bands also riding and playing music on flatbed trailers.

     While the riders were out on the run begging and collecting all the ingredients for the gumbo after the run, the crowds were gathered at downtown and park all during the day. The crowds that came for the festivities downtown grew by the thousands this year. The total number of people gathered for the day's festivities were estimated by Eunice Police Chief Gary "Goose" Fontenot to be at approximately 50,000 which is also a record-breaking number for the Eunice Mardi Gras. It was a beautiful day in Eunice (the weather couldn't have been better), perfect for everyone to be outdoors and enjoying the days events. The weather was perfect for the day's events. The sun was shining all day long with a slight overcast, which kept it from being too hot.

     There were live bands all during the day playing Cajun and Zydeco music as the people danced on the streets. We had bands like Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, Paul Daigle & Cajun Gold and Don Fontenot & Les Amis Cajun playing cajun music. There was also the band, Brad Randall and the Zydeco Ballers playing Zydeco music. Food was not at a shortage either as people ate many types of cajun delicacy's such as boudin, cracklin, sauce piquant, barbecue burgers, jambalaya, back-bone stew, funnel cake, deep fried Irish & sweet potatoes, sweet dough pie, fried corn, crawfish egg roles, boiled crawfish and king cake. There were games for the children and face painting. It was a day filled with all sorts of activities, food, music, and fun throughout the downtown area.

     Another event held Mardi Gras day was the creation of the Worlds Largest King Cake. This years cake beat the record made last year by four feet. The total length for this year's cake was 79 feet compared to last year's 75 feet. Eunice doesn't hold the record for the Worlds Largest King Cake anymore because last year, a delegation of people from Louisiana went to Washington and created one almost 200 feet. It would not be practical for Eunice to try to beat that record at this time so they don't foresee beating that record anytime in the near future. Eunice does not have the Worlds Largest King Cake record anymore, but does have the distinction of being the first to have the Worlds Largest King Cake record though. Although Eunice does not have the worlds record anymore, it does have and continue to hold the record for Louisiana's Largest King Cake. This year, the king cake was baked by employees of Champagnes Food Store and was displayed in the front lobby at the Eunice City Hall. Slices were again sold for one dollar a slice.