By David Vitrano

L’observateur

LAPLACE — In two weeks time, the Mardi Gras season will have come to a close, and the Lenten time of repentance will be here. Between now and then, however, many local residents’ calendars are filled with all manner of Carnival functions.

In recognition of this, last week L’Observateur asked visitors to its website what their favorite part of the season is.

As could be expected, the main focus of the season, parades, was the most popular choice for locals’ favorite Mardi Gras activity and garnered one-third of the vote.

With the parades come parties, music and good times with friends and family, and for one-quarter of voters, this was their favorite aspect of the season.

Placing third among the choices was that perennial Mardi Gras treat. One-fifth of respondents selected king cake as their favorite part of Mardi Gras.

While watching parades, one of the main activities is catching all the beads, doubloons and knick-knacks thrown from the floats. While some will do anything to avoid the flying trinkets, for 13 percent of poll respondents, it is the main draw of the Mardi Gras season, according to the poll results.

Rounding out the choices was riding or marching in parades. While there are not as many opportunities here in the River Parishes compared to Orleans or Jefferson parishes, local krewes are easier to join and less expensive than their more well-known counterparts. Still, only one-tenth of voters said it was their favorite part of Carnival.

A full breakdown of results follows:

• 33 percent of respondents chose “Watching parades.”

• 13 percent of respondents chose “Catching beads, doubloons and other goodies.”

• 20 percent of respondents chose “King cake!”

• 10 percent of respondents chose “Riding or marching in parades and attending Carnival balls.”

• 25 percent of respondents chose “The music and festivities.”