Krewes of Druid & Nyx

Krewe of Druids, founded in 1998, honors the Celtic priests who acted as mediators between people and their gods and nature. The krewe is fairly small and cloaked in secrecy. The first float didn’t pass us until almost 8pm. Kids have school, their parents have work but there were still plenty of families on the route giving it the miles-long-block-party feel I like. By tonight when I dance with the Pussyfooters in Krewe of Muses, the crowds will be thick with out-of-towners. Druids highlights included the Organ Grinders, the Amelia Earhawts and Sophie B. Wright’s marching band.

Krewe of Nyx is 5 years old and was dubbed a super-krewe this year with nearly 40 floats. One of the all-female parades, the coveted throw is a purse and this was the first year I didn’t get one. I did get plenty of other fun throws though including  2 glass bead necklaces, a glass bead bracelet and a “good one” Krewe doubloon. There were over 1500 riders in 2015 making it the largest all-female Krewe in Mardi Gras history. This year hosted over 2,200 riders. These women have clearly taken on parading like bosses.

Dance troupes included the Sirens, Nyxettes, 610 Stompers, Pussyfooters, Disco Amigos and the Star Steppin’ Cosmonaughties – who really stepped it up this year with a giant penguin and other fanciful creatures. The many school bands included Landry-Walker, Warren Easton, McDonogh #35 and Southern University Marching Band. I loved the Try Athletes, costumed riders on brightly lit bikes.

I’d love to say it was a perfect evening but on the way home, we ran into the very kind man we’d stood next to all night, a rabbi. He’d just been robbed at gunpoint then punched. I don’t talk about this on this blog, but crime is a constant here and it breaks my heart.

Krewe of Druids

waiting on Nyx

Krewe of Nyx

Pussyfooters

big bag of throws

under the tree