Kern Studios, the world leader in float creation, has been a part of Mardi Gras history since 1932. Now the family-owned and operated business designs and builds floats for festivals and celebrations all over the world. Mardi Gras Decorators of Slidell owns 36 floats and has a virtual monopoly on St. Tammany parades, handling Eve in Mandeville, Olympia in Covington, and Dionysus, Poseidon, Slidellians and Titans 🪡 Process of Float Creation. Creating Mardi Gras floats is a time-consuming, intricate, but highly creative process spanning several months. It involves a team of artists, designers, and builders who work together to bring the parade’s theme to life. Designing and Sketching. The first step in creating a Mardi Gras float is designing and The Golden Age of Mardi Gras Floats source: life.com. By the early 20th century, Mardi Gras floats had become a defining element of the celebration. Krewes such as Zulu, founded in 1909, introduced unique themes and satirical floats that humorously depicted current events and public figures. For anyone who has ever wondered how the giant floats featured in Mardi Gras parades are created, Mardi Gras World in New Orleans offers a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry and craftsmanship behind the city’s legendary celebrations. The Birth of Mardi Gras Floats: A 19th Century Phenomenon. To understand the origins of Mardi Gras floats, we need to rewind to the 19th century. The first recorded Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans was in 1837, but it was more of a rowdy procession than the organized spectacle we know today. The floats have become an integral part of the Mardi Gras tradition, weaving together elements of art, culture, and community celebration. In 1857, the Mistick Krewe of Comus introduced the first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, featuring a humble procession with only two borrowed floats froma New Year’s Eve parade in Mobile, Alabama. Mardi Gras revelers greet a float from the Zulu parade at the corner of St. Charles and Canal Streets in New Orleans, La., on Mardi Gras day Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1997 Meet the family behind the famous Mardi Gras floats. 04:56. TODAY anchors take a tasty whirlwind trip around New Orleans. 08:11. 3rd Hour of TODAY kicks off Mardi Gras in New Orleans. 04:22. Tia Flowers, a digital sculptor at Kern Studios, oversees the building of a foam rocket for a float at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. (Photo by Chris Granger, The Riding on a float in a Mardi Gras parade — bestowing coveted baubles into the outstretched hands of a jazzed crowd — can be quite a thrill. Fortunately for those with a yen to play Santa Claus, some parading krewes let outsiders join in the fun — for a price. First time riding in a Mardi Gras Parade. 2023 was my first time riding in a Mardi Gras parade, and the whole experience was so much fun! I love all Mardi Gras celebrations, but riding in a parade is special. The best way to ensure you have a great experience is to grab a few friends and take over a float! The float is returned to Mardi Gras World after the parades and the props may turn into a new character in the year’s to come. And the two weeks before Ash Bask in the glory of your beautiful Mardi Gras float(s) and have your own mini-parade! We ended up having so much fun making these floats that we made more later. You can save your floats and add to them each year, letting your krewe grow and grow into a Super Krewe! Kern Studios, the world leader in float creation, has been a part of Mardi Gras history since 1932. Now the family-owned and operated business designs and builds floats for festivals and celebrations all over the world. Most cities observe Mardi Gras. New Orleans, Louisiana, is famous for Mardi Gras. Parades are a large component of the celebration. These parades feature floats. Individuals on the floats toss beads and other things to the audience. Individuals dress in costume and wear masks. Music is also a component of the celebration.
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