The Krewe of Gemini Parade Rolls This Saturday

The Krewe of Gemini Mardi Gras Parade is set to roll on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at 3:30 p.m. The Shreveport Police Department is urging the community to make sure they are in the know so they have the best time possible. There will be several roads closed down to prep for the parade.

Police plan to close Clyde Fant Parkway from Lake Street to Shreveport-Barksdale Highway. The roads will close at 7:00 pm on Friday night before the parade. Clyde Fant Parkway will re-open to traffic at 7:00 am on parade day so people can set up early on Saturday morning.

Corporal Angie Willhite the Public Information Officer for Shreveport Police Department said "Members of the public will not be allowed to set up tents or recreational vehicles nor will they be allowed to save parking spaces on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway or on the service road between Stoner Avenue and Shreveport Barksdale Highway before 7:00 am on parade day. Any stakes, flagging tape, furniture, tents, and other such items left as space markers prior to 7:00 am will be removed and discarded by police. Violators are subject to citation, tow, and removal from the parade."

The Gemini parade kicks off at 3:30 p.m. at Lake Street and travels southbound on the Clyde Fant Parkway exiting west on Shreveport Barksdale in the westbound lanes to East Kings Highway., turn southbound onto East Kings Highway and travel southbound to East Preston Avenue. They will then turn eastbound onto East Preston Avenue. Gemini will end as the last float turns onto East Preston Avenue

"THE ROADS WILL NOT RE-OPEN UNTIL THE TRASH CREWS HAVE COMPLETED THEIR WORK."

Parking:

•  Parking on East Kings Highway is reserved for permit holders only.
• No parking is allowed before 7:00 am on parade day on Shreveport-Barksdale Highway or the Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway. No parking is allowed at all on any neutral ground and improved roadway on Shreveport-Barksdale Highway.
• Citizens may not park in restricted areas marked with rope, cable, tape, or any other device used as a barricade.
• No parking is allowed on Captain Shreve Drive.

If you need access to handicapped parking, it is available at the East Kings Highway Park, also known as the “Duck Pond”. There is also parking available at Veterans Memorial Park on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway and at Atlantic Avenue at East Kings Highway.

Parade day street closures:

· 8:30 am - Crockett Street from Spring Street to Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway.

· 8:30 am - Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway from Lake Street to Milam Street.

· 8:30 am - Crockett Street east at Spring Street

· 8:30 am - Crockett Street east at Market Street

· 8:30 am - Commerce Street south at Milam Street

· Lake Street will open at 10:00 am then close to eastbound Spring Street at 2:00 pm

· 2:00 pm - Stoner Avenue south to Clyde Fant Parkway

· 2:00 pm – Stoner Avenue north to Clyde Fant Parkway

· 2:00 pm - Clyde Fant Parkway Exit Ramp to Shreveport-Barksdale

· 2:00 pm - Clyde Fant Parkway at Shreveport-Barksdale Bridge

· 2:00 pm - Bossier will close the Shreveport Barksdale Bridge

· 2:00 pm - Shreveport Barksdale from Youree Drive to Shreveport-Barksdale Bridge at

· 2:00 pm - East Kings Highway From Shreveport-Barksdale to Preston Avenue

· 2:00 pm - Shreveport-Barksdale Service Rd. (Flyer Dr.), Southbound & Northbound at

· 2:00 pm - All streets along East Kings will close

· Knight Street WILL remain open.

· Preston Avenue exit from Clyde Fant WILL remain open until floats arrive at Preston Avenue and East Kings Highway.

No Throw Areas:

• The staging area on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway north of Lake Street
• The railroad tracks over Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway just north of Veteran’s Memorial Park
• Stoner Avenue bridge over Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
• Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway exit to Shreveport-Barksdale Highway
• The transitioning curve from Shreveport-Barksdale Highway to East Kings Highway
• Past the ending banner on East Kings Highway and any points thereafter

Prohibited Items/Acts:

• No glass bottles or containers are allowed on the parade route.
• No one may cross parade barricades during the parade.
• No animals allowed within 200 yards of the parade route, except service animals.
• No dangerous objects or silly string.
• No concealed carrying of a firearm.
• No one may throw anything at a parade float.
• Large flags or banners are not allowed within 50 feet of the parade route.
• No underage possession of alcohol. Violators will be arrested.
• No public nudity will be tolerated. Violators will be arrested.
• No ATV’s, side by side, dirt bikes, or any other motorized recreational vehicles are allowed on any public property, this includes the grassy areas along Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway and city streets. Violators will be subject to citation, arrest, and towing of the vehicle.