PRICHARD, Ala. (WPMI) The Goat Man won't be leading Saturday's annual parade in Prichard this year because there is no Goat Man this year.
There is a goat lady.
Legend has it that the parade began back in the 1920's during segregation, when blacks weren't welcomed at most downtown parades. That's when a local goat herder started his own procession.
Things have changed a lot since then, but the Krewe of Goats parade still rolls through Prichard. And this year there is a huge change in this annual tradition, the krewe has chosen a woman to represent them.
She is Tomzie Williams, and she's making history as the first ever Goat Lady. Williams says she knows it's different, but the new concept is working.
"They feel, okay, a little threatened," she said, smiling. "I've heard a few comments, but, you know, I can handle them, and I handle them well. I let them know this is the year of the Lady Goat, the years of the nanny goat, and I'm here! And I'm here to stay. So, they work close with me, and work well. A lot of them are working real close to me, congratulating me and all, so it's okay. It's nice to have a little feud between us two, the males and the females, but it's fine."
The Krewe of Goats, featuring the Goat Lady, will kick off at noon Saturday at Highway 45 at the old Greer's Supermarket, then travel south on Highway 45 ending at the city Municipal Complex.
One more fun fact: 17 Goat Men came before the first Goat Lady.
Also, this year the krewe welcomes another new tradition, a children's parade called The Krewe of Kids!
