Spectators cheer for more beads.
Thousands of spectators waved and cheered for beads as the 21st Annual Soulard Mardi Gras Parade rolled through historic Soulard neighborhood, March 4. With great fan-fare and blaring of horns, the parade launched at 11 a.m. from Busch Stadium and proceeded south along Broadway and 7th Street. The music blarred from huge speakers on more than 100 floats. As the marching units passed, the crowd roared and hands waved eargerly to catch beads thrown from wildly decorated truck beds and radio vans. Two hours later under a warm blue sky, the parade drew to a close at Sidney Street near Anheuser Busch Brewery.