Krewe of Chewbacchus 2020

The unofficial start of the Carnival parade season used to be a week from now with Krewe Du Vieux, but the festivities began earlier for the second year with the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus. Though it got rolling with a dancing army of Princess Leia’s, Chewbacchus has widened its focus from Star Wars to include subkrewes with themes like Wakanda, Pokémon and Sharknadeaux – with people wearing toy sharks emerging from lit cottony tornadoes.

Krewe de Vieux and Krewedelusion 2012

It’s Carnival time!!! Kids on Christmas Eve have got nothing on New Orleanians anticipating Mardi Gras so when I heard a brass band passing through the French Quarter Saturday afternoon, I ran to find The Roots of Music marching through the the streets, rehearsing for their 6 upcoming parades, and squealed with delight. Enjoy the short video of the casually dressed but very skilled kids who’ve dedicated themselves to training after school with this wonderful non-profit group. They certainly got me in the mood for Krewe du Vieux and Krewedelusion’s parades later that evening.

Krewe du Vieux and Krewedelusion (R-rated)

Though much of the humor is the local insider sort, Krewe du Vieux and Krewedelusion are far and away the bawdiest sanctioned parades to roll through the French Quarter. Mardi Gras hasn’t officially started but the brass bands and costumes and throws have already begun. Saturday morning, I heard a band coming down the street and ran out to find DancingMan504 leading the second line honoring the recently departed Poppa Neutrino.