May 20, 2013
Revelers are expected to flock to the Mardi Gras celebrations on Texas' Gulf Coast, rain or shine.
Despite expected rain and thunderstorms Friday that could cause flooding, vendors and longtime visitors in Port Arthur say bad weather doesn't make much of a difference on attendance and sales.
Rhonda Gaspard and her husband have come from Sulphur, La., for more than 15 years to sell Mardi Gras beads, hats and masks. Gaspard tells the Beaumont Enterprise that no one wants to miss out.
Gaspard and others expect large crowds after the parades on Friday and Saturday.
Port Arthur native Jeanette Spencer calls Mardi Gras a "family affair" that is the town's biggest event each year.
