The Louisiana Irish-Italian parade will be back on Veterans Memorial Boulevard on Sunday (March 20) celebrating the organization's 40th year as well as its return from a three-year hiatus. The giant procession sets out at noon from Veterans and Houma boulevards with 31 floats, 58 truck floats, 15 walking clubs and a flag-throwing group from Italy, said Jason Renton, the captain.  John Theriot and Desi Vega will serve as grand marshals.

Floats will be packed with throws, Renton promised. Besides the traditional paper flowers and beads handed out by the marchers, he listed "coozies, produce, king cakes, Italian bread, ramen noodles, cookies, moon pies, doubloons, cups, garters, underwear, footballs, frisbees, stuffed animals, and I could go on forever."