1/30/2008 - 1:13 PM

Meet Club Lotteaux's Krewe of Thor Parade Ride Giveaway Winner!!!

Parade ride winner Neva Ferguson of New Roads and friend, Karen Houston, are ready to roll with the Krewe of Thor!

Neva Ferguson of New Roads is no stranger to riding in Mardi Gras parades, but she was still excited to learn that she was the winner of the Lottery's parade ride giveaway!

Ferguson, a veteran rider of both the Spanishtown and New Roads parades, will now roll with the 2008 Krewe of Thor in Metairie on Jan. 30.

"Mardi Gras has to be one of my favorite holidays," said Ferguson.  "You spend all year chasing after your kids, and for just a little while, YOU get to dress up and be a little crazy!"

Ferguson, along with her husband Jim, own Parrots on the Island restaurant in New Roads.  The couple has sponsored a float in the New Roads Mardi Gras parade for the past four years, as well as a float in the Spanishtown parade for the past 14 years. 

Between organizing both krewes and participating in the Lottery's Krewe of Thor ride, Ferguson was afraid she might be a little strapped for time, but that didn't curb her enthusiasm!  She and long-time friend, Karen Houston, are eager for the new experience.

According to Ferguson, she was a member of Club Lotteaux long before signing up to win the parade ride.  "It's on my tool bar when I turn on my computer," Ferguson admitted.  "That way when I see the e-mail from the Lottery, I can just click to log on."  Ferguson said that she originally joined Club Lotteaux to get the winning numbers.

And as for playing the Lottery, she said, "It's for the hope -- It's always a good day if you have hope." 

CELEBRATE CARNIVAL YOURSELF WITH THE LOTTERY'S MARDI GRAS GAMES

Don't forget to stop by your local retailer to get one of the two action-packed games the Lottery is offering this Mardi Gras season: ($1) Carnival Win with top prize of $1,000 and ($2) Let the Good Times Roll with a top prize of $12,000.

Here's a fun way to use Mardi Gras scratch-offs this season: Give the one who gets the king cake baby a scratch-off ticket! So, catch the Louisiana Lottery's parade of Mardi Gras-themed tickets. They make great parade party favors and are a fun way to kick off the season with your friends.

Congratulations to New Orleans artist Darrin Butler whose artwork appears on the game, Let the Good Times Roll, after winning the Louisiana JAZZ visual arts competition sponsored by the Lieutenant Governor's Office and the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. For background on the artist click here.  Whether you're an arts buff or avid Lottery fan, you're gonna love the vibrant colors and movement of the New Orleans traditional second-line depicted on the ticket.