Carnival throws, music and the aroma of gumbo cooking in the pot will dominate downtown Vicksburg Saturday when the 14th Downtown Vicksburg Mardi Gras parade rolls up Washington Street.

To follow is the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation’s fourth annual Carnaval de Mardi Gras and Gumbo Cook-off at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center.

The parade starts at 4 p.m. with award-winning Vicksburg artist and Attic Gallery owner Leslie Silver serving as queen. Silver, who opened the Attic Gallery 42 years ago, received the 2014 Governor’s Cup Award for arts in the community.

Homemade floats starts rolling on Belmont Street and continues north on Washington Street to Jackson Street, where the parade will disband. An estimated 4,200 people watched the 2014 parade, which had 33 entries.

Originally planned for Valentine’s Day, one of the busiest shopping days for downtown businesses, the parade and cook-off were moved to accommodate those merchants.

“We have 32 entries this year,” said Kim Hopkins, Vicksburg Main Street executive director. “We have some new entries, and seven businesses have entered floats, which is wonderful. We’re expecting a good crowd and beautiful weather for the parade.

The forecast for Saturday predicts sunshine with a high of 67.

The Carnaval de Mardi Gras and Gumbo Cook-off follows the parade at 5 p.m. in front of the Southern Cultural Heritage Center auditorium.

The program is the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year, and replaced the annual Mardi Gras Ball, which had lost participants.

“We have 15 teams, and they’re talking smack,” said Carnaval chairman Alaina O’Bannon. “Based on the response we’re getting, we’re expecting between 1,500 and 2,000. We’ve gotten 200 likes on our Facebook page.”

She said more teams are anticipated. Entry fee is $60, and teams can register up to the day of the cook-off.

Gumbo recipes will be judged in two categories, seafood and non-seafood. Trophies will be presented for first, second and third place in each category, with the first place winners in each category also receiving $200 and free entry in next year’s competition. There will also be a people’s choice award and an award for best food display.

The teams will be along Crawford Street in front of the Southern Cultural Heritage Center auditorium. People will be able to walk along the street and sample gumbo, and we’ll have music playing. Some of the people will have games next to their booths. There will be live music inside the auditorium by Legal Tender with DeAnna Nicole.”

Admission is $10 for adults, and includes all the gumbo they want to taste, and $5 for children. The child’s admission covers all the children’s activities but does not include food.

There will be a children’s area with games and prizes, an inflatable slide and “bounce house,” and a concessions area with pizza and hot dogs. The concessions will be available at a cost. Boy Scout Troop 102 from First Presbyterian Church will sell funnel cakes during the Carnaval.