How Did Hot Dogs Become a Part of the Krewe of Highland Parade in Shreveport?

The Krewe of Highland Parade rolls on Sunday and this is one of the most unique events in the entire state. The Krewe encourages riders to toss throws that are recyclable. Parade founder Matthew Linn says they throw a higher quality product and many things you can consume. We also throw money.

What Is the Favorite Throw at the Highland Parade?

But the big story of the Highland Parade has to be the hot dogs that are thrown out.

Linn tells us about how the hot dog tradition got started and this really is hilarious. He says in year 3 of the parade he saw all these people eating hot dogs. "I thought there was a hot dog vendor." Linn adds "the next year I saw more people eating hot dogs and I asked these folks where are you getting all these hot dogs. They said "from the hot dog float". I told them we don't have a hot dog float. I know every single person in the parade."

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What's the Story About the Hot Dog Vendor

Linn says you have to fast forward the story a few more years. He went up and down the line searching every float to try to find the one connected to the hot dogs. But he had no luck. But between year 6 and 7 he overheard some people at a party talking about the hot dog float. He asked them who the people were. He found out the culprits were Jeff Clark, John Head and David Clark with Clark Energy.

Linn tells KEEL News he tracked them down and paid a visit to Jeff Clark at his office. Linn told him "ok I hear you are the hot dog float and you've been breaking into the parade like they did in Animal House."

Jeff said "I'm busted. I knew you would catch me eventually." Clark even put his hands behind his back like he was gonna get handcuffed. Linn says he told him about his punishment:

Because you have recognized the true spirit of Mardi Gras by giving away without any reward and giving the best to everyone, we would like you to be
King #7.

Clark was amazed. He said "7 is my lucky number. This is the best day of my life."

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Linn says he then presented him with a bill for his entry fee for all the prior years that he rolled in the parade without dues to the Krewe of Highland. Clark actually wrote a check for 10 times that amount.

And now, the float which says "Eat Me" will throw out more than 5,000 hot dogs this year.