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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 Proteus is more than a parade; it’s historic preservation. Lundi Gras, St. Charles Avenue, 5:15 p.m. 2. Le Krewe d’Etat. Celebrating carnivals’ most profound motto, this is the only krewe in which the throne float is ridden by a dictator rather than a king. The krewe has all original floats and its own house-made flambeaux torches. 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. Many krewes have a theme to their parade each year, and so floats are created to reflect those themes. 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 One of the most significant advancements in float construction came in the 1930s when artist Blaine Kern, known as “Mr. Mardi Gras,” revolutionized the industry. Kern’s work introduced new techniques such as fiberglass molding, mechanized elements, and vibrant, airbrushed colors, leading to even more spectacular parade displays. Sometimes floats float! The Krewe of Bilge is a Mardi Gras boat parade in Slidell, Louisiana. For the last 40 years, Bilge has thrown beads, cups and other Carnival treasures to parade goers from the middle of Slidell waterways. The Krewe of Bilge boat parade was founded by locals in 1978 and now read more » 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 Expect the spectacular from the Hermes Mardi Gras parade that rolls on the Uptown route Friday night. The 87-year-old procession regularly includes some of the most beautiful floats in all of 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. 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. Mobile, Alabama’s Cowbellians deRakin Society sponsored a New Year’s Eve parade in 1957 that featured only two floats, but the Mistick Krewe of Comus sponsored New Orleans’ first Mardi Gras parade in 1857 with only two floats. Boats were decorated with flowers and other ornamentation for the Lord Mayor’s Show on the River Thames, but 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. Commander’s Palace in New Orleans has been serving Brandy Milk Punch for decades, with a recipe famously made by the restaurant's late matriarch, Ella Brennan. The creamy, spiced cocktail is the perfect drink to enjoy through your Mardi Gras celebrations. With a strong focus on inclusivity, community, and economic impact, Pensacola’s Mardi Gras has become one of the city’s most significant annual events. On Saturday afternoon, an estimated 100,000 people flocked to downtown Pensacola to watch an additional 6,000 people float by in the Grand Mardi Gras parade. The Krewe of Kings The Krewe of Kings (aka the Kings of Metry) is a Jefferson Parish Carnival Club, established in 2019. After a short hiatus due to Covid and the tragic passing of Co-Founder Mckinley “Mackie” J. Cantrell III, the krewe is returning to the Metairie parade route on Lundi Gras in 2025. There’s nothing quite like Mardi Gras in New Orleans. One of the world’s most iconic celebrations – and definitely one of the most well-known experiences in New Orleans – Mardi Gras is a mix of parades, music, food, and local culture that takes over the city for an experience like no other. Mardi Gras parade. If you’re an annual passholder, this can start MUCH earlier for you than the actual season. As an AP you’ll want to pay attention to Universal’s emails about Mardi Gras coming up as most of the time they’ll announce an exclusive opportunity for APs to sign up for parade rides on the floats first. Time to toss There are several Mardi Gras parades set to roll in and around Baton Rouge this year! UWK has you covered with your ultimate Mardi Gras guide. Let us help you plan where you’ll catch your beads and favorite parade throws. We have parade times, locations and those important parade maps! Mardi Gras Float Ride & Dine Experience. WHEN is the Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience: Select Dates Feb. 1–Mar. 30, 2025; The time you select to eat will depend on when the Mardi Gras Parade starts that night. WHAT is the Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience: Reserve a guaranteed spot on one of our spectacular Mardi Gras parade
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Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
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