SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
The
W atchman
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, D e c e m b e r 17, 2025
The Rev. Brad Doyle leads the 61 Bluffers on Dec. 7 during the annual St. Francisville Christmas parade.
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PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
61 Bluffers dance their way into hearts, holiday traditions
BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer
Some Christmas traditions have roots so ancient it’s hard to trace their origins. To the contrary, St. Francisville Christmas paradegoers can trace the origin of the new hot tradition: the Dancing Bods Dads who have quickly become a local and regional crowd favorite. They go by different names, but the founder offers the full, proper name. “We’re technically the 61 Bluffers: the Dancing Dad Bods of West Fel,” the Rev. Brad
Doyle said. The dancing dads have taken the parade by storm since the crew debuted in 2021. They were originally a group of golfers assembled by Doyle, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church. The dancers were a massive hit and a parade “mustsee” Sunday, Dec. 7, in their fifth year of the parade that concludes Christmas in the Country weekend. The group has about 30 members and around 20 usually perform at Christmas and other occasions like St. Patrick’s Day and after the Witches Ride. Although they aren’t professional dancers or entertain-
ers, they are willing to dance in the streets to foster the Yuletide spirit. Behind the gaudy Christmas shirts, bold personalities and cool shades, the men are pillars of the community when they are not strutting down Commerce and St. Ferdinand. “Oh, man, well, we got pastors right here like me and Brandon,” Doyle said referencing fellow man of the cloth the Rev. Brandon Sykes, pastor of Tunica United Methodist Church. “I guess there’s
ä See BLUFFERS, page 2G
St. Francisville parade ushers in Christmas season A young girl watches the parade roll by on Ferdinand Street.
ä More photos. PAGE 3G
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
The Bayou E-Z Riders roll along the route during the Christmas parade on Dec. 7 in St. Francisville.
Audubon Library accepts new toys for giveaway Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Audubon Regional Library branches are drop off locations for Toys for Tots. Toys should be new and unwrapped when donated. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 22. Value should be $10 or more and toys are for ages 0-12. The 0-2 age range is often the greatest need. Books are needed. Homemade toys are accepted. No used toys, toys that look like real weapons, not toys with candy or food, and no toys with chemicals.
ä See AROUND, page 4G
A pup dressed in holiday gear marches with the Krewe de Canines.
Found it!
Hannah Pitre tries to get a branch stolen by Archie out of his mouth after her parents, Brandy and Jason, picked out their Christmas tree at Windy Hills Farms recently. The tree farm is open for the season and it was packed with hundreds of visitors on the first day who picked, chopped and carried their own trees. STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
ä More photos from the tree farm. PAGE 4G