Much like a groundhog’s shadow predicts the coming of spring, today’s Dudy Gras 6.5 parade is a signal to Starkvillians that baseball season is near.
Today is the first day that tailgating structures (most with histories stranger than this parade’s) can be moved into the outfield at Dudy Noble for the upcoming baseball season.
In 2006, a group of locals decided to organize the move-in as a Mardi Gras-style parade, and the rest is history.
This year’s parade begins at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon at Rick’s Cafe and runs up Miss.  Highway 182 to Mugshots, then straight down Main Street, through the Cotton District and onto campus.
The parade will dead end at Dudy Noble with a group picture, then Rick’s Cafe will host an after-party where there will be T-shirts for sale and an awards ceremony.
Co-founder Hobie Hobart said the 2006 parade never actually happened, thus the .5 in the parade’s name.
 ”The first year we did it, it wasn’t but a few of us, and it was about 35 degrees and raining and sleeting,” He said. “We voted 3-1 to cancel the parade, and we just went to Mugshots to drink instead. So we give ourselves half credit for that year. I was the one vote to go ahead with it, by the way.”
From those humble, intoxicated beginnings, Dudy Gras has grown into a local tradition.
Hobart estimates that between eight and 12 tailgating rigs will be in the lineup this afternoon, but the rest of the lineup will be a mixture of pickups, fire trucks and other floats carrying bead-throwing supporters of MSU baseball.
“It’s gotten so big now, I’ve had to do a permit with the city,” Hobart said.
Dudy Gras has had as many as 30 vehicles in years past and, according to Hobart, more are welcome.
“Just show up. It’s open to anybody to who loves MSU baseball,” Hobart said.
This year’s parade will celebrate 45 years of baseball at Dudy Noble Field with grand marshals Beau Gregory and Frank Portera, who started at pitcher and catcher for MSU’s first game at Dudy Noble. 
“Whether you want to be in it or come out and watch it, I just encourage everybody to come on out with their cowbells and their maroon so we can start the season off right.”