Established in 1992, the Mystic Krewe of Barkus may have started as a silly way to get friends back (see story here), but it has grown into a parade big enough to shut down a chunk of the French Quarter. Between the adorable dogs, the costumed walkers, the floats made from wagons and shopping carts and the terrific bands, this parade has something for everyone.
The weather couldn’t have been nicer – a sunny, balmy mid-70’s. This year’s theme was “Tails and Tiaras ‘Here Comes Honey Bow Wow'” so many of the costumes and floats were based on kids’ beauty pageants. The floats and subkrewes had names like: Honey Roux Boux, Buddy Boo Boo, Honey Bee Bees and the Krewe of Honey Do Do. The parade is always a little chaotic owing to the 4-legged paraders and the many dogs in the crowd. Things seemed even more casual this year but there were plenty of adorable dogs and fun concepts. A picture is worth a thousand words so I’m allowing the photos and video to do most of my talking.
Many of the paraders are rescue dogs and the whole event encourages adoption. Though I loved all the creativity and canines, the highlights for me were both musical. I was delighted to find a band with members from Bonerama, Rebirth and more. They parked right in front of us while playing “When the Saints Come Marching In.” But the best moment of all was when the kids from The Roots of Music finally reached our stretch to close the show. They were, as always, amazing. I literally swell with pride and joy every time I see them. I was delighted to see that StubHub is now sponsoring the non-profit. Until the Super Bowl, every time you click this link, StubHub will donate $1. CLICK please!
After the parade ended, The Roots of Music came back down our block practicing some very cool dance moves for this year’s Mardi Gras parades. I wish I’d still had my camera with me!
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- before the madness
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- DancingMan504 and Johnny of New Orleans Movie Tours
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- kids and dogs
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- stoop-setting
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- face painting
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- waiting on the parade
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- first timers
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- Ashley the Traffic Tranny
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- Jennifer Jones leads the band
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- tutu cute
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- another tutu cute
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- King of Barkus
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- stroller baby
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- rugged cutie
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- the Queen arrives
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- Queen cuddling
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- royal court
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- Barkus bone
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- Mardi Gras Indian dog
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- Saints fan
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- rainbow brite
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- b-ball player
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- Treme Brass Band and new addition
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- beaded beauty
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- huge dog
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- even bigger dog
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- Blame it on the Dog Brass Band
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- two cute
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- makin’ groceries
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- fun with poop toy
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- super-group of amazing musicians
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- Bonerama’s Craig Klein
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- elegant couple
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- pup with panache
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- colorful!
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- she’s the “female dog”
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- skull family
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- here comes the bride
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- Toto
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- beer can beauty queens
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- petticoated pup
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- Elvis
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- perched in green
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- Beauty Queens
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- Saints fans
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- love the ears
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- back and gold ball gown
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- beauty cuties
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- crawfish
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- golden family
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- partying and parading
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- Adopt!
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- DancingMan504 and New Wave Brass Band
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- twins
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- Gumbo the Bounty Hunter
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- Cafe du Monde beignets!
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- too pooped to puff
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- 610 Stompers dog
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- 3 of a kind
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- Miss Marley
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- leggy paraders
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- through the looking glass
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- Ultimate Grand Supreme Baby
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- butterfly
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- tuckered tot
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- You better redneckonize!
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- a handful
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- showgirls
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- cute collar
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- taco
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- Honey Bow Wow
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- bright bow wow
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- bejeweled
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- beaded stroller
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- menacing
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- The Roots of Music
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- Roots dancer
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- Roots drumline
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- drumming
L.A. to N.O.LA 
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