The Krewe of Iris is the oldest all-female krewe, established in 1917. The krewe’s’ signature throw is hand-decorated sunglasses. I caught 3 pair this year and another 4 pairs of undecorated sunglasses along with other fun treasures like a fanny pack and a glitter-filled rain poncho. Iris is such a pretty parade with colorful, feminine floats like the fairy with motorized wings that open wide then glide back as the street-barge rolls the Avenue. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Krewe of the Rolling Elvi
Krewe of Iris 2023
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2023, parade
Tagged as Amelia Earhawts, Austin Powers, bagpipe, beads, Disco Amigos, Iris parade, Krewe de Fleurs, Krewe des Fleurs, Krewe of Iris, Krewe of Rolling Elvi, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, latonola, Laura Cayouette, mardi gras, new orleans, NOLA Fembots, parade, Rolling Elvi
Inaugural Children’s Hospital Holiday Parade
I’ve loved dancing with the Pussyfooters in the annual Krewe of Jingle holiday parade for years. Sadly, the parade didn’t survive the pandemic, so organizers from various local organizations came together to create the first ever Children’s Hospital Holiday Parade. The float builders at Kern Studios created Louisiana and New Orleans-centritc floats like alligators and Mr. Bingle. TV cameras were set up throughout the city to report the action. Floating balloons (like in the Macy’s parade) were added to the many dance krewes and school bands crowds have come to expect. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Charity, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, parade
Tagged as 610 stompers, beads, Blaine Kern, Bryan Batt, Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital Holiday Parade, Dolly Parton, Downtown Development District, El Lucha Krewe, Femme Fatale, Femme Fatales, floats, french quarter, holiday parade, Jingle parade, Kern, Kern Studios, Krewe of Dolly, Krewe of Iris, Krewe of Jingle, Krewe of Jingle Parade, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, La Lucha Krewe, latonola, Laura Cayouette, Lucha Krewe, Mande Milkshakers, mardi gras, Margaret Orr, Mr. Bingle, Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale, new orleans, parade, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, Roux La La, Rudolph, Sassyracs, Smokey Mary, The Beyjorettes, the Pussyfooters
Southern Decadence 50th Anniversary Parade
Southern Decadence was cancelled in 2020 for the pandemic, then again in 2021 for Hurricane Ida. 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the costumes, parties and parades celebrating the LGBTQ community. The now-6-day weekend attracts over 210,000 people annually and creates a $250 million economic impact making it one of the top 5 annual events in New Orleans.
This year’s colors were red and gold. Continue reading →
Filed under Culture, decorations and costumes, festival, free events and lagniappe, parade
Tagged as 50th anniversary, All Ways Cabaret & Lounge, AllWays Cabaret & Lounge, Big Easy Roller Derby, Big Easy Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Camel Toe Lady Steppers, Disco Amigos, french quarter, Krewe d’Esprit, Krewe de Lune, Krewe des Fleurs, Krewe of Chewbacchus, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, latonola, Laura Cayouette, Lucha Krewe, Muff-A-Lottas, National Salad Tossers Union, new orleans, Nola Heat, NOLA Night Lights, parade, Pups and Handlers, Pussyfooters, Ritmeaux Krewe, Rolling Elvi, Roux La La, Southern Decadence, southern decadence 50th, Streetcar Strutters, The Beyjorettes, The Lords of Leather
Krewe of Boo Parade 2021
It’s been over a year and a half since New Orleans hosted a big parade with floats – since Carnival 2020 – so the crowds were out in droves for Brian Kern’s Krewe of Boo Halloween parade. Meters’ bassist George Porter, Jr. served as King, and the Grand Marshal was rapper, producer, DJ Mannie Fresh. I dance with The Pussyfooters, a non-profit body-positive group of over 100 women over-30 in pink corsets, so my only chance to see all the floats and attractions is during the lineup. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, parade
Tagged as 610 stompers, Amelia Earhawts, Amelia Earthawts, beads, Brian Kern, clydesdales, costume, costumes, COVID, covid 19, Crescent City Fae, DJ Mannie Fresh, Femme Fatales, french quarter, George Porter, George Porter Jr., Halloween, Halloween costume, Halloween parade, Krewe of Boo, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, latonola, Laura Cayouette, Mande Milkshakers, Mannie Fresh, mardi gras, Muff-A-Lottas, new orleans, NOLA Cherry Bombs, pandemic, parade, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, Sassyracs, the Pussyfooters, vaccinated
House Floats Wrap-Up
This year’s Carnival season was much quieter this year. No parades with their marching bands and screaming crowds. No music venues packed with dancing patrons. Bourbon Street was closed. In fact, the French Quarter shut down liquor sales in the French Quarter for the final weekend of Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday. But New Orleans managed to make the best of a bad situation and came up with some fairly marvelous distractions. City Park created a drive-thru parade – Floats in the Oaks – as a safe way to see the floats, maybe catch a dance krewe, and relive some memories. I got to dance twice with my fellow Pussyfooters and it was pretty great being able to make people smile as they drove by.
But is was “Yardi Gras” that really gave the city something to smile about. Another socially distanced version of Mardi Gras, Yardi Gras turned thousands of houses and businesses throughout New Orleans (and as far away as Australia and Abu Dhabi) into parade floats. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2021, parade, walking
Tagged as #MaskUp, 610 stompers, Acadiana Hay Ride, Alter Egos, Baby Dolls, Bearded Oysters, Camel Toe Lady Steppers, carnival, Chris Owens, Chris Owens French Quarter Easter Parade, Chris Owens Parade, COVID, covid 19, decoration, Dr. John, George Seurat, house floats, Krewe of House Floats, Krewe of Redbeans, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, Lady Godivas, latonola, Laura Cayouette, marching band, mardi gras, mardi gras decoration, marigny, mask, masking, Max Bernardi, Merry Antoinettes, Muffa-Lottas, Muffalottas, new orleans, Night Tripper, Organ Grinders, Oui Dats, painting, parade, parade float, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, social distance, social distancing, St. Augustine, St. Augustine High School, st. patrick, St. Patrick's, St. Patrick’s Day Parade., Sunday Afternoon, Yardi Gras
Krewe of Iris 2020
Established in 1917, Krewe of Iris is the oldest all-female krewe and they truly set the standard. The queen wears a traditional beaded gown, jeweled crown a wide, ostrich-feather-trimmed, lace collar. But it’s the rest of the royal court that sets this krewe apart with their sequined gowns topped with giant, elaborately beaded collars depicting different themes. I especially like the Maid in the Saints collar and her Duke’s matching Pelicans cape.
Their floats are gorgeous. My favorite was back – the woman’s face with long hair flowing, purple irises nested in the locks. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2020, parade, Uncategorized
Tagged as Amelia Earhawts, bagpipers, bagpipes, beads, carnival, floats, high school, Iris parade, krewe, Krewe of Iris, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, latonola, marching band, mardi gras, music, new orleans, NOLA Cherry Bombs, parade, Rolling Elvi, Saints, st. charles, throws
Krewes of Muses and Babylon 2020
High wind gusts prevented Thursday’s parades from rolling, pushing 2 to Friday and one to Sunday’s schedule. With the addition of the Krewes of Muses and Babylon to Friday’s lineup, a 3-parade night became 5-parade marathon. Muses and Babylon rolled mostly without bands and dance groups to keep things moving quickly.
I was supposed to parade in the Muses 20-year anniversary parade with the pretty-in-pink Pussyfooters, Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2020, parade
Tagged as Babylon, beads, Bearded Oysters, carnival, floats, krewe, krewe of Babylon, Krewe of Muses, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, latonola, marching band, mardi gras, muses, Mythological Menagerie, new orleans, parade, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, st. charles, throws
Southern Decadence 2019
Southern Decadence – 5 days of costumes, parties and parades celebrating the LGBTQ community – attracts over 210,000 people annually and creates a $250 million economic impact making it one of the top 5 annual events in New Orleans. It’s also one of my favorite walking parades of the year, an explosion of vibrant colors and fanciful costumes. This year’s theme was Fruit Salad: Come Toss a Good Time which led to a Carmen Miranda inspired spectacle. Continue reading →
Filed under Uncategorized
Tagged as Baby Dolls, Big Easy Rollergirls, Big Easy Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Camel Toe Lady Steppers, Crescent City Fae, Disco Amigos, El Lucha Krewe, Flaming Flagetts, french quarter, Fruit Salad, Fruit Salad: Come Toss a Good Time, hula hoop, Jeff Goldblum, Krewe de Lune, Krewe de Lune’s Star-Steppin’ CosmoNaughties, Krewe des Fleurs, Krewe of Goddesses, Krewe of P.U.E.W.C., Krewe of sPANk, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, latonola, LGBT, LGBTQ, Lords of Leather, Louisiana Pups and Handlers, Mermoux, Merry Antoinettes, Morton’s Salt, Morton’s Salt girl, Muff-A-Lottas, music, Mystic Krewe Lords of Leather, Mystic Krewe of P.U.E.W.C., Mystic Krewe of The Lords of Leather, new orleans, New Orleans Louisiana Pups and Handlers, New Orleans Pups and Handlers, NOLA Night Lights, Organ Grinders, Pair-A-Dice, Pair-A-Dice Tumblers, parade, Pussyfooters, Ritmeaux Krewe, Roux La La, Satin Dolls, Satin Dolls -N- Heels, Scooter Club, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Southern Decadence, Star Steppin' Cosmonaughties, Streetcar Strutters, Voodoo Scoots, Voodoo Scoots Scooter Club
Krewe of Iris 2019
Founded in 1917, Krewe of Iris is the oldest all-female krewe at 102. Their vibrant, beautiful floats began parading in 1959. Sunglasses are a signature throw with the hand-decorated ones being the most coveted. Saturday was warm so crowds were thick for the many marching bands and dancers. The Krewe of the Rolling Elvi also found a spot in the lively procession. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, history, Uncategorized
Tagged as beads, carnival, floats, high school, Iris parade, krewe, Krewe of Iris, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, latonola, marching band, mardi gras, new orleans, parade, Rolling Elvi, st. charles, throws, women, women's parade
Krewes of Babylon and Muses Parades 2019
Because I dance with the Pussyfooters, I haven’t attended the Krewes of Babylon and Muses parades since 2013. Though I was fairly devastated to be too under the weather for hours of dancing, it was kinda wonderful to experience the Thursday parades as a spectator. The rain chased the start time forward and back, finally pushing the Krewe of Chaos out of the evening entirely. Hopes are that they will roll Monday instead. Babylon was beautiful and it was great touching base with meteorologist Margaret Orr as she drove past. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2019, parade
Tagged as Babylon, beads, Bearded Oysters, brass band, carnival, floats, Knights of Babylon, krewe, krewe of Babylon, Krewe of Muses, Krewe of Rolling Elvi, Krewe of the Bearded Oysters, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, Laissez Boys, latonola, marching band, mardi gras, Margaret Orr, muses, Muses shoe, new orleans, Organ Grinders, parade, paradetracker.com, Patricia Clarkson, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, Saints, st. charles, throws