Preparations are underway for the Gretna Italian-Irish Parade, set to roll Sunday at noon along Huey P. Long Avenue. The Shaw football team helped load thousands of pounds of produce from trucks onto floats Friday morning. A mayor’s viewing stand is in place, and homes and businesses along the route are decorated ahead of the event.
Paul Leman, chairman of the Gretna Italian-Irish Parade, said 44 floats will roll alongside 16 marching bands and eight St. Patrick’s Day groups. “72,000 cabbages, 112,000 lemons, we have oranges, like 45,000 oranges and 25,000 moon pies. It’s crazy. Carrots, cucumbers — you name it,” Leman said.
