It’s Mardi Gras time
Whether you’re hungry for Carnival bacchanalia or a safe spot for your kids to leap for beads, cups and doubloons, South Louisiana’s Mardi Gras parades and celebrations offer something for every taste.
Here, in no particular order, are 225’s Top 10 parade picks for 2009. Mardi Gras is Feb. 24 this year, so there isn’t much time to revel in the season. Better get to it!
SOUTHDOWNS
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This neighborhood parade features homemade floats decorated and manned by Southdowns residents and their ever-growing circle of friends.
Recommended for: Anyone who likes family-friendly Mardi Gras revelry.
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20.
Where: In and around the Southdowns neighborhood south of Perkins Road in Baton Rouge.
What you’ll see: The Dancing Girls performing carefully choreographed routines, followed by the famed Flambeaux Krewe that kicks off the parade of two dozen floats all decorated around this year’s theme, “The Eye of the Storm.”
Throws: Standard Mardi Gras beads in various lengths along with some specialty beads and cups thrown in the mix, and the annual custom-designed Southdowns doubloon.
Royalty: Unavailable as of press time.
On the web: southdowns.org
SPANISH TOWN
Baton Rouge’s most risqué, sarcastic and sometimes racy Mardi Gras parade. Spanish Town floats have a penchant for political satire and plenty of double entendre.
Recommended for: Adults who enjoy zingers and potshots at politicians’ expense, big post-parade block parties featuring live music, and large crowds.
When: Noon Saturday, Feb. 21.
Where: Rolls through Spanish Town and downtown Baton Rouge.
What you’ll see: Seventy-five floats decorated around this year’s theme of “Buy Yeaux Bailout,” plus the always colorful and elegantly choreographed lawnmower brigade.
Throws: Traditional doubloons, beads, cups and a promise not to throw anything hard.
Royalty: King Rob Payer, Queen Margie Moore, with Jim “Batman” Spain as Grand Marshal.
On the web: spanishtownmardigras.com
ARTEMIS
Baton Rouge’s only all-ladies krewe with a reputation for abundant throws and an air of pleasant southern charm.
Recommended for: Families looking for a great night parade with unique throws.
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13.
Where: Rolls through downtown Baton Rouge, starting and ending at the Sheraton next to the atrium at the Belle of Baton Rouge.
What you’ll see: About 20 floats decorated around the theme of “See the USA the Artemis Way,” honoring iconic American locales like Plymouth Rock, as well as dancers, marching — a special performance by the St. Augustine band from New Orleans—and old timey “beep-beep” cars with unusual horns.
Throws: Long pearls, beads, and the parade’s signature high-heeled shoe.
Royalty: King Jasen Berry and Queen Sandi Lucas.
On the web: kreweofartemis.net
ORION
A traditional New Orleans-style all-male Krewe.
Recommended for: Families who enjoy traditional parades and people who don’t love driving to New Orleans to fight dizzying crowds.
When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14.
Where: Downtown Baton Rouge, starting behind the Sheraton.
What you’ll see: Seventeen floats adorned with this year’s theme, “Tour de France.” Also, you’ll see assorted marching and support groups, and the debut of a new tandem float that carries 60 members and represents the sword and shield—iconic symbols of Orion himself.
Throws: Several lighted throws, hand-strung polystone beads, stuffed animals, cups, footballs and doubloons emblazoned with the Orion logo.
Royalty: King Norman Browning and Queen Linda Coates.
On the web: kreweoforion.com
JUPITER
A traditional New Orleans-style krewe but with both men and women, and they boast that theirs are the best throws in town.
Recommended for: Anyone who likes fun, family-friendly parades and catching lots of goodies.
When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7.
Where: Downtown Baton Rouge, starting behind the Sheraton and ending on Convention Street near the Hilton Capitol House.
What you’ll see: Seventeen floats bedecked around the theme “Love at the Movies,” each float representing a different movie. Also, you’ll see a variety of marching bands and dance teams.
Throws: Traditional beads, stuffed animals and special throws from each float.
Royalty: King Marshall Grodner and Queen Donna Grodner.
Scott and Michelle from 100.7-FM are the Grand Marshals.
On the web: kreweofjupiter.com
MYSTIC KREWE OF MUTTS
Anyone can join this parade, which is all about celebrating man’s best friend, the dog. It’s also a fundraiser to help support the Capital Area Animal Welfare Society.
Recommended for: Dog lovers and children.
When: Sunday, Feb. 15. Register your dog to trot in the parade starting at 10:30 a.m., with the parade actually “rolling” at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Downtown Baton Rouge, up and down North Boulevard.
What you’ll see: Canines of all shapes and sizes celebrating this year’s theme, “Pawraiders of the Lost Bark,” as well as dog owners vying to win the dog-owner look-a-like contest.
Throws: Pretty much anything goes, although some paraders throw nothing more than proud glances at the throngs checking out their beloved pooches.
Royalty: Each year a king and queen are chosen just before the parade from the previous year’s adopted pets.
On the web: caaws.org
MYSTIQUE
A mystical male-and-female krewe, it’s family-oriented and allows non-krewe members to sign up and join their annual parade.
Recommended for: Anyone who likes a bit of mystery—this krewe keeps the theme and royalty top-secret until their ball.
When: 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14.
Where: Rolls through downtown Baton Rouge starting near the Baton Rouge River Center.
What you’ll see: A dozen non-krewe truck floats, 15 krewe floats, and a variety of dancers.
Throws: Commemorative footballs, doubloons and cups, plus Mystique’s increasingly popular magic wands.
Royalty: It’s a secret! This year’s Grand Marshal is Gerry Lane.
On the web: krewemystique.com
NEW ROADS COMMUNITY CENTER CARNIVAL PARADE
Louisiana’s oldest Mardi Gras celebration outside of New Orleans, it’s the city of New Roads’ biggest party of the year.
Recommended for: People who love Mardi Gras partying but in a small-town atmosphere.
When: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Where: Around downtown New Roads, beginning and ending near Rosenwald Elementary School.
What you’ll see: Thirty freshly built floats, six bands, and several drill units honoring this year’s theme, “A World of Cultures.”
Throws: Metallic beads in an assortment of colors and lengths, logo cups, stuffed animals and smaller toys such as plastic crawfish, alligators, and other Louisiana novelties.
Royalty: The king and queen will be unmasked when their float reaches the review stand.
On the web: newroadsmardigras.com
NEW ROADS LIONS CARNIVAL PARADE
First known Mardi Gras parade to be established as a charitable fundraiser, with its proceeds benefitting Lions Charities.
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys a unique, old-fashioned Mardi Gras celebration.
When: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Where: Around downtown New Roads, beginning and ending near the National Guard Armory.
What you’ll see: Thirty floats embellished with this year’s theme of “Scenes from Around the World,” as well as nine bands and several drill units.
Throws: Specially minted doubloons and 1920s reproduction glass beads reminiscent of the first beads distributed at the Rex parade of 1921, in addition to metallic beads and small toys.
Royalty: The king and queen will remain masked until their float reaches the reviewing stand in Courthouse Square.
On the web: newroadsmardigras.com
MAMOU COURIR DE MARDI GRAS
A street party that kicks off on Lundi Gras (Monday), with live music and a street dance on 6th Street, followed by a day-long party on Mardi Gras with more live music and street dancing. What really sets Mamou apart are the Mamou Courir, colorfully costumed horsemen who spend the morning riding around the country chasing live chickens and dancing and singing as they beg for ingredients for a community-wide gumbo that evening.
Recommended for: Anyone hungry for raucous Louisiana culture that bears little resemblance to big-city Mardi Gras.
When: Festivities begin the evening of Monday, Feb. 23, then things get really wild Tuesday morning through late evening.
Where: Mamou, about 20 miles northwest of Opelousas.
What you’ll see: Men in gaudy costumes doing handstands on trotting horses and occasionally hopping off to chase frightened chickens through pastures. The Courir trots into downtown around 3 p.m. Also live music, street dancing and a hearty evening gumbo.
Throws: None: throws are not part of the Mamou experience.
Royalty: Royalty-shmoyalty. Again, that’s not what Mamou is about.
On the web: lsue.edu/acadgate/mammardi.htm. For more current information, contact the Town of Mamou at (337) 468-3272.
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