Let the festivities begin — it’s time for Mardi Gras Southeast Texas.

Procter Street in downtown Port Arthur will soon be filled with floats, food vendors, live entertainment, carnival rides and beads during the 24^th annual Mardi Gras celebration, which runs from Feb. 4 through Feb. 7.

Krewes will toss thousands of beads during the numerous scheduled parades to help put the crowd into the spirit of the occasion.

“We recommend 1,400 beads per rider,” Ann Marceaux, manager of the Mardi Gras Store, said. “And with 30 people per float, plus if each person bought that many, that’s a lot of beads.”

Revelers will also have a chance to catch some throws such as Mardi Gras footballs, stuffed animals and even Moon Pies.

Upwards of 60,000 people visit inside the festival grounds, organizers said, and thousands of revelers set up outside the gates as well.

Mardi Gras Southeast Texas is a nonprofit organization

And the festival wouldn’t be a success without the help of volunteers.

“It takes a minimum of 500 volunteers to man the event,” Lisa New, volunteer coordinator with the Krewe of Service, said. They are gate workers, parade volunteers, they work the beverage booths, sell souvenirs and are cashiers.

Volunteers come from the different participating krewes and organizations. This year there are 15 organizations helping out along with the krewes. The organizations range from churches to service clubs to chambers and foundations.

“Without the volunteers, we wouldn’t have a Mardi Gras,” she said.

Gates open at 5 p.m. and close at 10 p.m. on Thursday and the Lamar State College-Port Arthur Parade begins at 6 p.m. The parade starts at the Carl Parker Center and ends at Houston Avenue. The public is welcome to participate.

Entertainment on Thursday begins at 6 p.m. with Larry Tillery and Vagabond Dreamers at the main stage and David Joel at 8 p.m. Thursday.

Online tickets to Mardi Gras are available at mardigrasportarthur.com