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.

Krewes of Druids and Nyx Parades

Everywhere else, it was just Wednesday but here in New Orleans, Krewe of Druids kicked off a 2 parade night that rolled its way toward midnight. Founded in 1998, the “Merlin”-hat-wearing Druids honor the Celtic priests who acted as mediators between the people and their gods and nature. Their krewe never has more than 200 members and secrecy shrouds their membership. In near direct opposition, the Krewe of Nyx is a diverse all-female Super Krewe of more than 2,200 riders. The last float in Druids was South-Park-inspired with a sign picking on Nyx, “Seriously… The parade behind us is not worth the wait!” Except, of course, it totally was. Though by 10:30pm there was some nostalgia for the Wednesdays of yore when people could get home to watch a favorite show or finish homework before turning in, Nyx puts on a heck of a parade.

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.

Krewe of Iris

Saturday started with the Krewe of Iris, the oldest and largest all-female krewe. Founded in 1917, they began parading in 1959. Named for the Goddess of the Rainbow who was also the Messenger to the Gods, the over 900 ladies wear masks and white gloves in the tradition of their foremothers. Award winning journalist and news anchor, Angela Hill, served as Grand Marshal. 

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).

Krewe of Alla

This was my first time seeing the Krewe of Alla parade, the 4th oldest Krewe. This was the first time it rolled the Uptown route having just moved from the West Bank where it’s rolled since the 1930’s. I imagine it was both disappointing for them not to see the same familiar route and faces and also exciting to roll St. Charles and Canal with the big crowds of locals and tourists. Though she was on the opposite side of the Captains float, on the turnaround, I did get to spot Margie Perez, a local musician and the muscle behind Mardi Gras bead recycling at ARC of Greater New Orleans.

Southern Decadence (someone left their gay out in the rain)

While my phone rang repeatedly with calls from loved ones fearing for my safety from tropical storm Lee due to overzealous and tourism-damaging reporting, I enjoyed a Labor Day weekend in the French Quarter during the largest gay event in New Orleans,Southern Decadence. Just like you don’t have to be Irish to enjoy our St. Patricks celebrations, you don’t have to be part of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community to enjoy the parades, outdoor concerts and shear spectacle of Decadence.