Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras in Jefferson

Mardi Gras is called "the biggest party on Earth" and Jefferson Parish is inviting you to that party! Spanning over two sides of the Mississippi River, the East Bank and the West Bank, Jefferson Parish offers Mardi Gras fun wherever you may be located.  Come and experience the sites, the sounds, the food, the music, the parades and of course, the BEADS in this family friendly celebration of Mardi Gras.  Starting on Sunday, February 20, 2011 and going through until Fat Tuesday, March 8, 2011 you can experience parades, each with their own theme and "krewe".  And, you don't want to miss Family Gras February 25-27; the music, food, art, and costuming family festival that has both locals and visitors buzzing. So come on down and become an official local when you celebrate Mardi Gras with thousands of your closest friends in Jefferson Parish.

The History - The Colors of Mardi Gras

Parade Routes - Parade Schedules - Family Gras

Ride in a Parade

The History

Mardi Gras was brought to Louisiana by early French settlers. The first record of the holiday being marked in Louisiana is 1699. The starting date of festivities in New Orleans is unknown, but an account from 1743 notes that the custom of Carnival balls was already established by that date. Processions and masking in the streets on Mardi Gras Day took place, were sometimes prohibited by law, and were quickly renewed whenever such restrictions were lifted or enforcement waned , in 1833 Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville a rich plantation owner raised money to fund an official Mardi Gras celebration.

On Mardi Gras of 1857 the Mystic Krewe of Comus held its first parade. Comus is the oldest continuously active Mardi Gras organization and started a number of continuing traditions (for example, the use of floats in parades) and is considered the first Carnival krewe in the modern sense.

War, economic, political, and weather conditions sometimes led to cancellation of some or all major parades, especially during the American Civil War and World War II, but celebration of Carnival has always been observed in the city.

In 1979 the New Orleans police department went on strike. All the official parades were canceled or moved to surrounding communities such as Jefferson Parish. Significantly fewer tourists than usual came to the city. Masking, costuming, and celebrations continued anyway, with National Guard troops maintaining order. Guardsmen prevented crimes against persons or property but made no attempt to enforce laws regulating morality or drug use; for these reasons, some in the French Quarter bohemian community are fond of calling 1979 the city's best Mardi Gras ever.

Today, many krewes operate under a business structure; membership is basically open to anyone who pays dues to have a place on a parade float. In contrast, the old-line krewes use the structure of the parades and balls to extend the traditions of the debutante season in their social circles.

The effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans in late 2005 caused many to question the future of the city's Mardi Gras celebrations. The city government, essentially bankrupt after the storm, pushed for a massively scaled back celebration to limit strains on city services. However, many Krewes insisted that they wanted to and would be ready to parade, so negotiations between krewe leaders and city officials resulted in a compromise schedule scaled back but less severely than originally suggested.

The 2006 New Orleans Carnival schedule included restrictions placed on time parades can be on the street and how late at night they can end. Louisiana State troopers and National Guards assisted with crowd control for the first time since 1979. Many floats had been partially submerged in the floodwaters for weeks; while some krewes repaired and removed all traces of these effects, others incorporated flood lines and other damage into the designs of the floats. Most of the locals who worked on the floats and rode on them were significantly impacted by the storm's aftermath, and many had lost most or all of the possessions in their homes, but enthusiasm for Carnival was even more intense than usual as an affirmation of life. 

The Colors of Mardi Gras

The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These are said to have been chosen in 1892, when the Rex Parade theme "Symbolism of Colors" gave the colors their meanings.

Purple - Justice      Green - Faith      Gold - Power

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Ride in a Jefferson Parish Parade!

The tradition of carnival is deeply rooted, perhaps no place more than in the hearts of the riders!  Yes, those grand riders atop those glorious floats tossing magnificant beads, trinkets, beads, cups, beads, stuffed toys, and did we mention beads...that can be YOU! 

YOU CAN RIDE IN A PARADE!  

Ride in Choctaw, Thor Parade, or Argus!

Ride in Choctaw Parade - Saturday, February 26, 2011
Individual Packages are available!  Become a member of one of the oldest carnival krewes!

Originally formed as a social organization, Choctaw did not parade until 1939 when ten old U.S. Government mail wagons were purchased from a salvage company for $50.00 each.  The old stripped-down mail wagons formed the chassis for the first Choctaw carnival parade floats.  In 1939, dances and parties were held at various locations which eventually led to a ball and tableau.  Chief Choctaw will parade on February 26, 2011 through Algiers, Terrytown and Gretna!

Ride in Thor Parade - Sunday, February 27, 2011

• Float Position
• Costume
• Throws to include assorted beads, stuffed animals
• All throws loaded on the float, ready to roll!

The Krewe of Thor was founded in 1986 and consists of both male and female riders, it is in fact, the first couples' krewe in Jefferson Parish.  Krewe of Thor, named for the Norse god of thunder and patron of peasants and warriors.  The ancient  Norsemen depicted him as a hammer-wielding hero riding a chariot that was drawn across the heavens by a team of goats.  Thor parade will ride February 27, 2010 through Metairie!

For information on riding contact Mr. Cantrell at his email address, Cantrellfloats@cox.net.  To visit the Cantrell Website where infomation on float - assembling and packaging is available, please click here.  

The Krewe of Argus has membership opportunities for you and your family to ride on Mardi Gras Day 2011. Visit their website at www.kreweofargus.net or call 504-885-3717 for details.  

The Krewe of Argus was founded in 1972 by several Jefferson Parish civic-minded business men.  This family-friendly parade rolls on Mardi Gras Day in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area.  Over one million family-oriented spectators line the Veterans Memorial Boulevard route to catch its assortments of specialty throws.  The Krewe is comprised of over 550 male, female, and children riders, as well as guest celebrities and a marching band.  Each year the Krewe crowns a Special King, Queen, and Royalty Court from its own membership to ride as Royalty.  In past parades, Argus has created special floats designed to honor our heroes in the Armed Services and local Artists such as George Rodrigue and his Blue Dog.  Membership includes ride on Mardi Gras Day, costume, party at the Den, pre-parade breakfast, and Mundi Gras at Lafreniere Park, just to name a few.  Argus has an outstanding reputation for being well-organized.  Local and out-of-town riders are welcome. 

Visit http://www.kreweofargus.net/ or call 504-885-3717 for more information. 

The Jefferson Parish Parade Routes

Eastbank (Metairie) Routes:

Little Rascals

Argus, Atlas, Caesar, Centurions,
*Elks Trucks, Excalibur, Isis, *Jefferson Trucks,
Napoleon, Thor, Zeus

*Trucks to follow Argus at the u-turn on the north side of Veterans.

Westbank Routes:

Adonis, Alla, Choctaw, Cleopatra

 

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The Jefferson Parish Parade Schedule

Special thanks to all Jefferson Parish Krewe Captains for their dedication, hard work, and playful spirit!

Family Gras February 25, 26 & 27, 2011

Visit our Family Gras Page for the details!

Gavin DeGraw Family Gras '09	Jesse McCartney Family Gras '09

FUN & ENTERTAINMENT
THE ENTIRE FAMILY WILL ENJOY

OUTDOOR CONCERTS, PARADES, FOOD BOOTHS,
AND AN ART MARKET!