Lake Charles Mentor, Anita Barker, Leads Children's Parade

Mardi Gras is in full swing, and Lake Charles has been celebrating carnival season since the first week in January. Sunday, February 19, the second largest Mardi gras parade got underway, and the city turned out in droves.

The Children's Parade occurred Sunday afternoon, and the weather was perfect! I don't know how many floats were in this year's parade, but there were a lot. The annual event is almost as big as the Krewe of Krewes parade regarding crowd size, and it is just as long.

The 2023 Grand Marshal was Anita Barker, founder of the Girlie Girls Mentoring Program INC in Lake Charles. Barker had dedicated her life to helping young girls (8-18) build academic and social excellence. I am happy to say that my daughter is a Girlie Girl.

The primary purpose of this unique mentoring program for girls is to empower, build self-confidence, and challenge them to reach their full potential. This year the Children's Parade was extra exciting because Barker and her Girlie Girls led the way! Congrats to you all. Below are a few photos from the events and a look at the enormous crowd.