In fact, February 5 is just about as close as you can get to the all-time earliest date: February 3. It will be a compressed season for sure, probably absent of much of the Spring Break crowd, but no less spirited.
With the Super Bowl falling on Bacchus Sunday, and the Super Tuesday presidential primaries on Fat Tuesday itself, the media focus will also be elsewhere this year, which makes it even more of a celebration for the locals. And as we’ve seen in the two years since the storm, that makes thing all the more special.
There is lots to celebrate this year, including a special return and some big anniversaries. Mid-City, and its always spectacular foil floats, turns 75. Make it one of your must-see parades this year.
Bacchus, the father of the super krewes, turns 40, and stirs up some controversy by selecting Hulk Hogan as its monarch.
Meanwhile, Carnival’s largest krewe, Endymion, makes Mardi Gras headlines by returning to its rightful Mid-City route, bringing grand marshal Kevin Costner and a host of other special guests along for the ride. The super krewe’s return to Orleans Avenue also means the return of the Samedi Gras pre-parade music festival on Endymion Saturday.
Carnival krewes in the city and the suburbs continue to bounce back from Katrina’s effects, building their membership, staying true to tradition and putting on the party that New Orleans is known for.
St. Bernard is poised to welcome the krewe of Gladiators back this year, along with the third annual Knights of Nemesis parade. Carnival on the North shore gets bigger and better every year, and of course Jefferson Parish continues to be a family friendly place for the two weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday.
For the second year, parish leaders are enhancing that reputation by sponsoring an event called Family Gras, which was highly successful in its first year. The outdoor music will be staged on January 25, 26 and 27, this time on both the east and west bank, encouraging families to celebrate a little early. Musical acts scheduled to appear include Taylor Swift, Cowboy Mouth, Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone, Frankie Ford, Irma Thomas and Amanda Shaw. Check out familygras.com for more details.
Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler
