Southern Decadence 2018

Southern Decadence is 5 days of costumes, parties and parades celebrating the LGBT community. Marking their 47th year, an M.C. reminded the crowd the event has been around since being gay was illegal.  Now, the long weekend attracts over 210,000 people and creates a $250 million economic impact – making it one of the top 5 annual events in New Orleans.

Good weather held out for most of the Sunday parade, save one fairly brief and cooling shower. Drag queens, dance troupes, pride groups and other revelers took to the streets in costumes

Southern Decadence 2017

Southern Decadence is a 5-day weekend of costumes, parties and parades celebrating the LGBT community that attracts over 200,000 people and creates a nearly $200 million economic impact. The Sunday parade had remarkably good weather, upper 80’s and sunny. Drag queens, dance troupes, pride groups and other revelers took to the streets in costumes accented with this year’s signature neon colors.

Southern Decadence 2016

Southern Decadence is a 5-day weekend of costumes, parties and parades celebrating the LGBT community. The events attract over 150,000 people and create a nearly $200 million economic impact. The Sunday parade is always the highlight for me. Drag queens, dance troupes, pride groups and other revelers worked with the “Decadence Takes The World” theme in costumes accented with red, white, blue and purple.

Krewes of Pontchartrain, Choctaw and Freret

This sunny, warm Saturday, the parades kicked into high gear with 5 parades rolling the Uptown route and 2 parades in the Marigny. We hit the daytime ones, the Krewes of Pontchartrain, Choctaw and Freret.  The tractor-drawn Krewe of Pontchartrain (established 1975 and named for Lake Pontchartrain) allows anyone with the cash to roll with them – even if they’re here as a tourist! The Dance Connection led the way for other dance teams including Xtreme Voltage Dance Team, Dance Innovation and crowd favorite – the Muff-A-Lottas (all pictured below).

Krewes of Choctaw and Freret Parades

The bad news is I missed the Krewe of Pontchartrain parade. The great news is I’m working this week. As a result, I won’t be writing much but I will include more photos. I also missed the first half of my first Krewe of Choctaw parade, recently moved from the Westbank, but arrived to see the Sci Academy Starlets, McDonogh #32, Andrew H. Wilson, Alice M. Harte, Harriet Tubman and Whatever School of Dance.  My favorite moment was when Wossman got stuck in front of us and their band really put on a show.

I also enjoyed the debut of the Krewe of Freret parade with Grand Marshall, DancingMan504.