Mardi Gras is coming early this year, and Vicksburg is in the beginning stages of preparing for the gluttonous holiday.

Vicksburg’s Carnaval de Mardi Gras Gumbo Cook-Off is set for 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 outside the Southern Cultural Heritage Center.

“We have a band that plays in the auditorium, we have kid’s games, of course the hopping booths, and if you don’t like gumbo then there are other things available like hot dogs, cookies, chips and stuff like that,” Nancy Bell, executive director of the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation, said.

The cook-off benefits the VFHP and costs $50 to register a team of three, one head cook and two team members, before Jan. 30 or $75 after Jan. 30. Entrants must prepare at least four gallons of gumbo, which must be cooked from scratch onsite aside from cleaning and cutting meat, and two gallons of rice, which can be prepared in advance.

Bowls and spoons will be provided for the public tasters, but all other necessary items are up to the team to supply for themselves. Teams will decorate a 10×10 site set up on Crawford Street between Cherry and Adams streets with access to a 110-volt power outlet.

“There is a lot of competition for the booths and what they look like,” Bell said. “Some go all out. It is really so much fun.”

The award ceremony is set for 8 p.m. with prizes being handed out for best decorated site, people’s choice and first, second and third place in both the seafood and non-seafood categories. First place in both categories will receive a trophy and $200.

Judges have not been chosen yet but are usually people who know about food. They will judge blindly on taste, aroma and consistency.

“It just depends on who is available, but they’re always good judges,” Bell said. “We try to get people who are in the industry, who know gumbo.”

To enter the cook-off, email vburgfoundation@aol.com or call 601-636-5010.

The Vicksburg Mardi Gras Parade is scheduled just before the cook-off at 4 p.m., which starts at Belmont Street, continues north on Washington Street and ends on Jackson Street.

“We’ll have beads…we’ll have candy and moon pies, and our grand marshals are Pat Hemphill and Jay Hopson,” Rebecca Sigh, assistant director of the Downtown Vicksburg Main Street Program, said. She said Hemphill works at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Hopson is a coach at Alcorn State University.

Deadline to enter a group into the parade is Monday, Jan. 25. Applications can be found in the Action Line office at City Hall and at the Visitor’s Information Center, 52 Old Hwy 27, located across from the Vicksburg National Military Park. Entry is $20 for nonprofit organizations and $40 for businesses. For more information or to have an application emailed to you, email kimh@vicksburg.org.