ST. LOUIS, Mo (KMOX) - Thousands will gather in Soulard for Mardi Gras, and residents say they have to be prepared for the masses partying right outside their front doors.

Several residents say they expect at least some vandalism over the weekend, trampled bushes and littering.

But Chief Sam Dotson tells KMOX police will have a significant number of uniformed and plain-clothes officers looking for underage drinking, car break-ins and other crimes.

There are seemingly never enough “Johnny on the Spots” along the parade route, so some residents worry about strangers using their homes and toilets. But one resident says he capitalized on that a few years back, charging strangers a dollar to use his bathroom. He says he made 300 dollars in one day. Others say they wouldn’t let a stranger in their home for any amount of money.

The parade begins in Soulard on Saturday morning at 11 o’clock, running from Busch Stadium to the Anheuser-Busch brewery.

To see some pictures of Soulard setting up, click here. For full details from Mardi Gras Inc, click here.