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.

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. 

Krewes of Femme Fatale & Carrolton

It was sunny and in the upper 70’s for Sundays parades. Another perfect day for parades – 4 of them! Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale debuted in 2015. Founded entirely by African-American women, membership is open to women of all colors and creeds and the signature throw, a mirrored compact, symbolizes both inward and outward reflection. My fellow Pussyfooters were included in the lineup so I wore my Pussyfooters t-shirt in celebration. Other adult parade groups were the Original Treme Baby Dolls, Skinz N Bonez, fabulous divas on Batman-like motorcycles, goddess warriors called The Amazons and the Black Storyville Baby Dolls. Though the Pussyfooters were the first adult dance krewe of the modern era, they drew their inspiration from the original Baby Dolls who paraded at the turn of the century so it was wonderful to see 2 Baby Doll krewes in the mix.