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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 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. 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. In 1870, Mardi Gras' second Krewe, the Twelfth Night Revelers, was formed. This is also the first recorded account of Mardi Gras "throws.". Newspapers began to announce Mardi Gras events in advance, and they even printed "Carnival Edition" lithographs of parades' fantastic float designs (after they rolled, of course - themes and floats were always carefully guarded before the procession). 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. 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 Known for its spectacular parades, floats, marching bands, throws, and King cake, Mardi Gras is the biggest celebration in New Orleans. The first recorded Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans took 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. The history of Mardi Gras floats is a fascinating one, and it is a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of the people of New Orleans. If you want to learn more about the history of Mardi Gras, check out this article on how Mardi Gras started . The floats were originally used as a way to transport revelers from one Mardi Gras party to another, but soon they became an integral part of the celebrations. Today, there are over 50 different krewe ( parade organizations ) that take part in Mardi Gras each year, and each krewe has its own unique floats. Learn the history & origin of Mardi Gras from Arthur Hardy, the world's foremost authority on Mardi Gras. Insider Tours offers vacation packages featuring all the BEST that Mardi Gras 2025 has to offer! Parade tickets, Bourbon St. Balcony Party, ghost tour, swamp tour, plantation tour, beads, gu Every year, as winter fades and spring approaches, the streets of New Orleans explode with color, music, and celebration. Mardi Gras, the grandest festival in Louisiana, is famous for its parades, beads, masked revelers, and deep cultural traditions. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a big event and the 2020 Mardi Gras parade floats will soon fill the streets. They're made by Kern Studios for 50 weeks so they Brian Costello, author of Carnival in Louisiana: Celebrating Mardi Gras from the French Quarter to the Red River, writes, "The Carnival season and Mardi Gras day trace their roots from the Bacchanalia and Saturnalia ritual promiscuity of Roman times. With the spread of Christianity, similar revelry occurred during the period of carnival (Latin Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday," and many scholars believe that Mardi Gras has its roots in the ancient pagan ritual of Saturnalia, which celebrated t Newspapers began to announce Mardi Gras events in advance, and they even printed "Carnival Edition" lithographs of parades' fantastic float designs (after they rolled, of course - themes and floats were always carefully guarded before the procession). Well, they are exactly what they sound like - items that krewe members on floats throw to parade-goers as the floats pass by! Throws often include doubloons, beads, cups, homemade trinkets, toys and more! Newspapers began to announce Mardi Gras events in advance, and they even printed "Carnival Edition" lithographs of parades' fantastic float designs (after they rolled, of course - themes and floats were always carefully guarded before the procession). Since 1947, our artists and craftsmen have designed and built the oldest and biggest parade floats and attractions for each Mardi Gras season, with over 500 floats built and decorated each year. When you begin your Mardi Gras World tour, you’ll get an overview of the history of Mardi Gras in New Orleans before continuing through our float den
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Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
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