Mardi Gras Indians Super Sunday – Photos!

Super Sunday is easily one of my favorite days of the years. The magnificent Mardi Gras Indians show off the plumed and embellished suits they spent the year carefully designing and crafting. Elaborately beaded panels often portray tales of fighting and loss. One family told the story of the wife’s battle with illness and her husband carrying her through the fight. One of the children in the Red Flag Hunters was adorned with sparkly images of Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and friends.

Irish Channel Parade 2017

The Mardi Gras parades just ended and already St. Patrick’s festivities have begun. Time again for floats and throws, dance troupes and walking krewes. The major difference is the occasion. And the green. Green beers, green wigs, green beads and glittery green beards abounded. Throws included Irish Spring soap, anything shamrock-shaped and fresh cabbages for soup.

We go to the parade every year but this year attended some of our friend’s parties as well. The spreads included Irish dishes along with crawfish and other local favorites.

Krewe of Thoth Parade with the Pussyfooters

Sunday was the Pussyfooters last parade of the season, Known as the “children’s parade,” the Krewe of Thoth parade has the longest route of Carnival in order to pass in front of Children’s Hospital. My phone counted 29,000 steps (14 miles). We lined up at 11am and spent our down time visiting with the 610 Stompers, the “Ordinary Men with Extraodinary Moves.” Roux La La rested nearby as the marching bands of De La Salle and John L. McClellan High Schools practiced.

This was my third time parading in 10 days. In between, I’ve been attending parades – and that does require an endurance of it’s own. But whether you’re dancing, twirling a baton, blowing on a giant tuba, walking on stilts or throwing beads from a float, parading is a labor of love that tests commitment and physical limits.

Krewe of Tucks Parade 2017

Krewe of Tucks has 1,300 riders, both male and female, and centers around toilets and bathroom humor. Prize throws are hand-decorated toilet scrub brushes and plungers. The weather was perfect and the throws were plenty. Though I enjoyed watching a woman hanging upside down and retrieving giant beads from the mouth of a shark coming out of a toilet (PHOTO below), my favorite float was easily Grand Marshal Frenchy’s. Not only had he hand-painted the float himself with the portraits of local icons, he was actually creating a painting while he rolled down the route. On a more misty note, – the Captain’s float was left empty for the recently departed Bobby Reichert.

Krewe of Iris – 100 Years

The oldest all-female krewe, Krewe of Iris was founded in 1917 and began parading in 1959. The bold and beautiful floats this year were inspired by the different parade themes across the krewes’ history. The court wore gorgeous sequined costumes with giant collars depicting cultural iconography. The queen was resplendent in a  traditional  beaded gown, jeweled crown and mask and regal lace collar. Sunglasses are a favorite throw with the hand-decoareted ones being the most coveted.

Krewes of Hermes, d’Etat & Morpheus Parades

Vendredi Gras AKA “Friday Gras” started early in the French Quarter with events like the Royal Sonesta’s annual Greasing of the Poles, but Uptown festivities began after the sun set.  Mystic Krewe of Hermes kicked off the 3 parade evening. Founded in 1937, the Krewe has  been parading longer than any other krewe that parades at night. In the wake of the Great Depression, some businessmen decided the best remedy for the blues was to expand Mardi Gras to a 5 day party. Celebration is often the solution to local woes. 

Krewe of Muses – Behind the Scenes

I love attending parades and the Krewe of Muses all-female Super Krewe of 1000 riders is a crowd favorite. When you participate in a parade, the one downside is that you don’t actually get to attend the parade. With the addition of the new train of duck floats being pulled by the traditional giant bubble bath and the opportunity to catch one of their coveted hand-decorated shoes, it was a lot to give up. That said, I love dancing with the Pussyfooters in Muses. A group of over 120 women-over-30, the Pussyfooters raise tens of thousands annually for domestic violence victims, provide entertainment and assistance at non-profit events and, of course, perform in parades year-round. The Pussyfooters debuted in the 2001 Krewe of Muses parade so I consider it an honor to join them rather than hope for a (super-awesome) glittery shoe.