NEW ORLEANS — Thousands of people hit the parade routes Monday night ahead of Tuesday's big parades.
Eyewitness News was on the Uptown routes, some saying, “This has been one of the best seasons yet, great weather, everyone is happy to be here.”
All lined up along Napoleon Avenue, husband/wife duo Robert and Janice Bellaci said, “The camaraderie of all the people from New Orleans, we just accept everybody, and we have a good time.”
Many staking out spots along the route, a group of women said, “We have been here since last Wednesday.”
True New Orleanians showing tourists how it's done, the Bellaci's, who were born in New Orleans, said, “It doesn’t matter if you are a doctor or a lawyer when you come to New Orleans, you can be whatever you want.”
A tradition they say is sacred to the city they love and call home, “It's something that no one else has, its what makes it so special, and New Orleanians are so proud of it.”
But it's those traveling with the parade that are the real heroes, especially those in the WWL-TV parade tracker app car. Helping us all find where the parades are on each route.
Martika Honeycutt a driver, said, “Overall, it has been a lot of people, you got to be careful with what you are doing and pay attention, but it's been really fun, really fun.”