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The world’s smallest Mardi Gras parade is taking shape. In Wathena, Kan.

The town’s city council voted unanimously Monday to allow a St. Joseph radio station to put on the big parade at 8 p.m. on Feb. 13.

With only a few concerns, K-JO 105.5 organizers Gregg Lynn and B.J. Scott said they are just making it up as they go along.

“We figured there’s got to be a way to have a parade before the end of Mardi Gras,” Mr. Lynn said. “You have to have it before Lent.”

Wathena was the first call. Without hesitation, the town approved.

“We’re just a small little conservative town,” said Jim McAnerney, the town’s mayor for 11 years. “That was my biggest concern. To be quite frank, it’s controversial to do this because we’ve never done anything like this before.”

Wathena has an open-container law which could impact partygoers during and after the one- or two-block parade. The town has only two bars, and only one is on the main strip.

“We want people to have fun but keep it within the parameters of good taste,” Mr. McAnerney said. “We’re a nice family town.”

As of Wednesday, the mayor said he has only received one citizen complaint about the approaching parade.

Besides K-JO 105.5 staff, the Wathena Volunteer Fire Department, city police and other volunteers will help with the crowd and parade participants.

If it’s handled correctly, it can be a very good thing, Mr. McAnerney said. “It’s just like our fall festival. It brings a lot of people to our town and gets them in town and exposes them to it.”

He said there’s some history to the quiet rural town.

Wathena’s main street is part of the original U.S. Highway 36 that connects the town to St. Joseph. Mr. McAnerney said the route was used by the Pony Express riders. The parade’s route is expected to be about a block long. The only other parade that short in the area is Maryville’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, which is one block long. The two towns might have to pull out the measuring tape to claim the official title.

The Mardi Gras parade is for a good cause. All monies raised will go to the radio station’s benefactor, Camp Quality. Mr. Lynn said the station raises about $20,000 to $30,000 every year in fundraisers for the local camp.

The cost to join the parade is $25 per entry, and submissions can made at www.kjo1055.com.

Mr. Lynn and Mr. Scott are still seeking a grand marshal. They’ve poked around at the possibility of having coaches Bill Self, Bill Snyder, or even former University of Kansas football coach Mark Mangino, do the honors.

Jennifer Hall can be reached

at jennhall@npgco.com.