The longest float in Mardi Gras at over 300 feet long with over 250 riders and nine parts, "Pontchartrain Beach, Then and Now," is one among the parade's well-known floats. extends nearly the full length of the krewe's Mid-City den, where it is being decorated to bring back memories of the long-gone amusement park Pontchartrain Beach, which 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 Ever since krewes began parading through New Orleans over 100 years ago, parade floats have played a major role in Mardi Gras history. Some floats are elaborate and beautiful, while others are funny and satirical. 🪡 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 Establish 1909 the Zulu Social Aid +Pleasure Club began as a benevolent organization and has grown into one of the most anticipated parades during Mardi Gras. The Zulu parade is famous for its vibrant and culturally rich floats, as well as its unique throws, particularly the hand-decorated coconuts, known as "golden nuggets." 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. 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. 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. The 2025 Carnival Season -- marked by a weekslong pre-Lenten bash and complete with colorful parades, shimmery beads tossed from floats and streets lined with costumed revelers -- is reaching its conclusion on the Gulf Coast. Muses famous rubber duck floats roll on Napoleon street during the Krewe of Muses parade on the Uptown parade route in New Orleans, Thursday February 23, 2017. the number of official Mardi The oldest female Mardi Gras organization in Jefferson Parish will celebrate Carnival 2025 with a 200-member, 18-float parade. This year's theme is “Isis Goes on a Field Trip” Floats will include Rivertown Theater , Aquarium, and Circus . Mardi Gras Day on the Northshore begins at 10 a.m. with the 24-float Carnival in Covington. More than 450 riders will celebrate with the theme, "This and Dat." Float titles include Red Beans and Rice with Abita Roasting, Crawfish and Beer with St John's Fools of Misrule, and Lady and the Tramp with Mardi Gras Floats; WHEN IS MARDI GRAS? Mardi Gras 2025; Future Mardi Gras Dates; Family Gras; Visit the Mardi Gras Shop. Check it out! Latest Mardi Gras News Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Mardi Gras, a flamboyant celebration synonymous with vibrant costumes, pulsating music, and a kaleidoscope of colors, reaches its pinnacle with the enchanting parades featuring elaborate floats. These floats, more than mere conveyances, are dynamic expressions of art that have evolved through a rich history. Reporting for TODAY, NBC’s Kaylee Hartung shares a behind-the-scenes look at the iconic floats in Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans and the family behind its historic legacy. (Sponsored by New PressReader. Catalog; For You; The Times (Shreveport) Learn history of these famous Mardi Gras words, phrases 2025-02-19 - Meredith G. White . For those new to Louisiana, when Mardi Gras season rolls around, the terminologÂy can be confusing and difficult to pronounce, or spell. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is known for the celebrations and parades. Kern Studios is the manufacturer of the floats and they take 50 weeks to make. The world-famous floats take a year to make In the late 1830s, Mardi Gras celebrations consisted of processions of masked revelers with carriages and horseback riders, with gaslit flambeaux carriers lighting the way. In 1856, a group of Mobile natives formed the Mistick Krewe of Comus. The parade featured horse-drawn floats and was a huge success, leading to the formation of more krewes Reporting for TODAY, NBC’s Kaylee Hartung shares a behind-the-scenes look at the iconic floats in Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans and the family behind its historic legacy. (Sponsored by New Where is the most famous Mardi Gras celebration held? The most famous Mardi Gras celebration is held in New Orleans, Louisiana. The city is known for its elaborate parades, masquerade balls, and street parties. What are Mardi Gras “throws”? Throws are trinkets, beads, and other small gifts tossed from parade floats to spectators. The
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() | ![]() |