Krewes of Pontchartrain & Choctaw

Saturday, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect for parades. Sunny and mid-70’s. Though the day promised to be amazing, the crowds were manageable since the NBA All Stars events have filled our hotels and party venues with people who aren’t here for Carnival. (We wore our Pelicans gear in solidarity – I went with the Kind Cake Baby). Krewe of Pontchartrain kicked us off for the first of five parades. The purple-and-white-clad women of Dance Connection led the Cajun Indians & Cowboys Riding Club and royalty floats. The roller-skating Big Easy RollerGirls and dancers from Dance Innovation and the Muff-A-Lottas got the crowd cheering. The many school marching bands included Saint Katharine Drexel Prep, Xavier University, Kipp Central City Academy, Pierre A. Capdau Charter School, Dolores T. Aaron Academy and Joseph S. Clark Prep. (PHOTOS)

Krewe of Mid-City

The Krewe of Mid-City, founded in 1933, is the 5th oldest continuously parading krewe of the Carnival season. They live by the motto, “Pour La Joie de Vivre” or “For the Joy of Life.” Unlike the more morose krewes with skeletons or the satirical krewes with their stabs at politics and culture, Mid-City is symbolized by an interlocking heart emblem and strives to delight children and the child in us. And unlike the other krewes with their papier maché floats, Mid-City makes their floats of shiny tinfoil and mylar.

Krewe of Oshun Video

As promised, here’s the video of last week’s official Mardi Gras parade season opener, the Krewe of Oshun. I uncharacteristically stood on the neutral ground side (where the streetcars run, rather than the sidewalk side). Local Who Dat shop, Fleurty Girl, has cute t-shirts declaring your viewing side.