MARDI GRAS 2018
Your guide to all of the parades in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes &
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MARDI GRAS GUIDE
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Carnival 2018: How we got here Mardi Gras, “the greatest free show on Earth,” is here again, with parades in Terrebonne and Lafourche just around the corner. Newcomers and locals alike will find themselves in the midst of the biggest celebration of Carnival outside greater New Orleans. An estimated 40,00050,000 people will line the streets for Houma’s biggest parades, clamoring for beads and other trinkets tossed by float riders. Some 30 parades are scheduled to roll through Fat Tuesday, Feb. 13. The annual celebration originated in the calendar of the predominate Catholic Church. It was the last opportunity among the faithful to dance, party, feast and drink, before
A rider in last year’s Shaka parade in Thibodaux waves to the crowd [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
the restrictions of the 40-day Lenten season that starts on Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter. The local Carnival tradition has roots well into the 1800s, when masked balls were common. Parades are mentioned in Houma and Thibodaux newspapers before the 1920s. In 1946, a group of Houma men planned the first parade of the Krewe of Houmas, which rolled on
Fat Tuesday 1947. In the years since, a succession of krewes joined the celebration. That 1947 parade featured a convertible bearing farmer Filhuacon “Tecon” Duplantis, whose irregular homemade parades, beginning in the 1920s, were credited with keeping the tradition alive. Tecon’s unofficial assemblies of decorated cane wagons and farm animals are not well documented,
but they reportedly grew from a few people on foot to some 200 floats drawn by oxen and horses. In 1955, the Krewe of Chronos of Thibodaux, launched its first modern parade, with a nod to the very first Thibodaux parade, reportedly in 1914, though that date has not been firmly established. One local Mardi Gras tradition is edible. The king cake, a ring of yeasty cinnamon bread iced in purple, gold and green Carnival colors, is available at bakeries and groceries. Some ship the desert, complete with a plastic baby. Traditionally, the baby was hidden inside the cake, and whoever got that slice bought the next king cake.
Local Parade Schedule Jan. 28: Des Petite Lions children’s parade, 1 p.m., Golden Meadow. Feb. 2: Hercules, 6 p.m., Houma. Feb. 3: Tee Caillou, noon, Chauvin; Aquarius, 6:30 p.m., Houma; Le Krewe of Des T. Cajuns, noon, Larose. Feb. 4: Hyacinthians, noon, Houma, followed
by Titans; Versailles, noon, Larose; Shaka, 1:30 p.m., Thibodaux, followed by Ambrosia, 2 p.m. Feb. 9: Aphrodite, 6:30 p.m., Houma; Athena, 7 p.m., Golden Meadow. Feb. 10: Mardi Gras, 6:30 p.m., Houma; Apollo, noon, Lockport; Bon Temps, 6:30 p.m., Larose; Atlantis, noon,
Golden Meadow. Feb. 11: Terreanians, 12:30 p.m., Houma; Montegut Children's Parade, 2 p.m., Montegut; Cleophas, 12:30 p.m., Thibodaux, followed by Chronos at 1:30 p.m.; Nereids, 6 p.m., Golden Meadow. Feb. 12: Cleopatra, 6:30 p.m., Houma. Feb. 13: Gheens, 11
a.m., Gheens; Houmas, noon, Houma, followed by Kajuns; Choupic, 1 p.m., Chackbay; Ghana, 1 p.m., Thibodaux; Neptune, noon, Golden Meadow; Maasai, 2 p.m., Thibodaux; Bonne Terre, 4 p.m., Montegut. parade.
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Top 5 tips for a happy Mardi Gras Whether you’re new to the celebration a seasoned veteran, here are a few suggestions to help you get the most enjoyment out of Houma-Thibodaux’s Mardi Gras parades: 1. TAKE THE RIGHT STUFF Things to pack: Snacks and drinks, maybe a sandwich. Unless you want to stand for two or three hours, bring a folding chair. Dress for the weather; wear sunscreen and sunglasses. A bag to collect throws. Leave at home: Pets. Glass bottles, firecrackers, silly string and other similar gags are illegal at parades. 2. PICK THE RIGHT SPOT Best spots in Houma: • To catch a parade twice or get home early, stake out a spot along Park Avenue near Southland Mall, the starting point for west-Houma parades. • No Booze:area around Good Earth Transit’s main terminal at Barataria Avenue and Main Street is designated an alcohol-, drugand tobacco-free zone.
Spectators raise their arms in hopes of catching beads and other trinkets as the Krewe of Cleopatra rolls through Houma last year. [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
• Family friendly Areas near Southland Mall and the intersections of Columbus and Main streets. Best spots in Thibodaux: • To catch a parade twice or to a second parade:Audubon Avenue along the Nicholls State University campus. • Family-Friendly time:Neighborhoods along Menard Street, Audubon Avenue and Jackson Street. 3. WANT BEADS? To fill up your grocery bags with throws: • Bring a small, preferably cute kid to the parade. Krewe members love to throw awesome toys, sparkly
beads and loads of candy to children. If you do not bring a child, stand as far away as possible from anyone with children. You will catch nothing. • Make creative signs or targets, buckets and hoops so riders notice you — and take aim. When all else fails, shout the trusted phrase “Throw me something mister.” • Wear something ridiculous. A purple wig, ugly sunglasses, costumes, anything that gets you noticed. 4. STAY SAFE • Stay alert and be ready to duck or cover your head or shield your kids. Over-enthusiastic float riders sometimes throw
trinkets harder than intended. • Leave large purses and bags and expensive jewelry at home. • Carry ID, credit cards and cash in front pockets. • Watch your children. Before the parade, discuss the importance of staying close to you. In case children do get lost, make sure each knows parents’ full names, address and phone number; tell them to look for police; and make careful notes of what they’re wearing so you can offer a detailed description to police. • Do not run into the street after floats or throws. • Lock your vehicle doors when parking. • Use a designated driver if you will be drinking. 5. What to do with beads and trinkets. Donate to local organizations such as The Haven, Terrebonn and Lafourche ARC and Goodwill and Salvation Army thrift stores. TARC has a wagon behind most Houma parades to collect beads for recycling.
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Des Petite Lions 1 P.M. JAN. 28, GOLDEN MEADOW
The krewe, with about 125 children and their parents, will hold its 12th annual parade this year. It will include nearly 20 floats. “I started it with my children, my two boys,” Director Shannon Leger told The Courier and Daily Comet in 2014. “They’re grown now. I think it’s important to
Des Petite Lions, 2014 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
continue because in our high tech world,
where everyone is connected to
their phones and devices, they need activities like this to keep them connected to their families. It’s important for kids to have social contact, and this is a great way to do that.” Route: The parade rolls south along La. 1 from Armand Street to South Bayou Drive.
Hercules
6 P.M. FEB. 2, WEST HOUMA The largest krewe in Terrebonne and Lafourche, its 750 male members will roll 29 floats under the theme “Hercules Celebrates the Saints.” Marching bands from H.L. Bourgeois and Ellender high and Evergreen Junior High will participate. Riders toss beads, cups and other trinkets representing the theme of each of their floats. The krewe, formed in 1983, has a unique relationship with Kern Studios in New Orleans. Hercules features the theme and giant figures
HERCULES, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
and floats from the previous year’s Bacchus and Endymion parades, some of the largest in New Orleans’ Carnival celebration. Parade route: Traditional west Houma route starts at Southland Mall, heads down Park
Avenue and turns right onto Hollywood Road, left onto Main Street and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall banquet hall at Bond Street. Grand marshals: New Orleans Saints mascots Sir Saint
and Gumbo the Dog. King: Michael Dardar Sr. of Houma. A member of the United Houma Nation American Indian tribe, Dardar owns Polar Aut-O-Air automobile air-conditioning service. He and his wife, Eunice, have been married 30 years and have three children -- Michael Jr., Erica and Matthew. A member of Hercules since 1999, Dardar has served in many leadership positions within the club. Captain: Krewe founder S.P. LaRussa.
MARDI GRAS GUIDE
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Tee Caillou NOON FEB. 3, CHAUVIN
In its 31st year, this children’s parade rolls includes about a dozen floats and 150 members. Route: Rolls south along La. 56 from the Chauvin Pool to Marty J’s truck stop.
Tee-Cailou, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
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Des T-Cajuns NOON FEB. 3, LAROSE
Roughly 200 children ages 4-16 will ride in this parade, which has about two dozen floats. This year’s theme is “A Day on the Farm.” Children are encouraged to join in building and decorating the floats. The group selects its king, queen, dukes and maids in a random drawing at its ball,
Des T. Cajuns, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
scheduled Jan. 20 at the Larose Civic
Center. Admission is a covered dish
food item. Wade and Mary Dufrene started the parade in 1998 with their daughters, Kellie and Jill. Route: Starts at the Larose Civic Center and rolls up 5th Street. It crosses Bayou Lafourche at the Larose Pontoon Bridge and heads south along La. 1, disbanding at the Rite-Aid parking lot.
Aquarius 6:30 P.M. FEB. 3, WEST HOUMA The 575-member women’s krewe will roll 22 floats under the theme “Aquarius Loves Animation.” Marching bands include Oaklawn and Houma junior highs, Morgan City and St. Martin high schools and the Black Dog Drum Line. Throws will include glow bracelets and glow ball wands, foam glow sticks and krewe cups. Tana Marcel and Nancy Carlos formed the krewe 1994 and its first parade rolled the same year with 147 members. Among its charity work, the krewe donates to
Aquarius, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
Toys for Tots, the local food bank and will host an Easter Extravaganza at Houma’s Courhouse Square. “Aquarius works very hard all year long preparing for
the main attraction of parading down the streets of Houma and giving back to the community,” the krewe says. “Watching the children waving their hands and
their smiling faces yelling throw me something is a pure delight to the riders.” Route: Traditional west Houma route starts at Southland Mall, heads down Park Avenue and turns right onto Hollywood Road, left onto Main Street and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall banquet hall at Bond Street. Queen: Susie Breaux of Houma. A krewe member for 20 years, she will be escorted by her husband, Andre Breaux. Ball captain: Leslie Tidwell.
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Hyacinthians NOON FEB. 4, WEST HOUMA
With nearly 400 members, the Ladies Carnival Club has 17 floats, this year rolling under the theme “Hyacinthians is Timeless.” Formed in 1951, the krewe staged its first parade the following year. The identities of the queen and king, Gardeline Sharp and Conrad Lirette, were revealed at parade time. For the past several years, the
Hyancinthians, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
krewe’s women members have tossed hundreds of
top hats decorated by members to spectators lining
Titans
the streets for the parade. Route: Traditional west Houma route starts at Southland Mall, heads down Park Avenue and turns right onto Hollywood Road, left onto Main Street and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall banquet hall at Bond Street. Queen and King: Char Herques and her husband, Tony Herques Jr., of Houma.
FEB. 4, FOLLOWS HYACINTHIANS, WEST HOUMA
Titans, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
Started in 1998, the krewe has nearly 500 men and women members and about 20 floats. Route: The krewe follows
immediately after the Krewe of Hyacinthians along west Houma’s parade route. It starts at Southland Mall, heads down
Park Avenue and turns right onto Hollywood Road, left onto Main Street and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town
Hall banquet hall at Bond Street. Grand marshal: Dr. Pedro J. Cuartas, a Houma dentist.
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Versailles NOON FEB. 4, LAROSE
In its 44th year, the co-ed krewe has about 150 members and a dozen floats. Route: Starts at the Larose Civic Center and rolls up 5th Street. It crosses Bayou Lafourche at the Larose Pontoon Bridge and heads south along La. 1, disbanding at the Rite-Aid parking lot.
Versailles, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
Shaka 1:30 P.M. FEB. 4, THIBODAUX Shaka, a predominantly African-American krewe with 16 men and women members, will celebrate its 23rd anniversary this year. The parade, with 15 floats, will roll under the theme “Arabian Night.” Float riders throw cups, beads and coconuts. The parade will include three marching bands, one each from Donaldsonville, Baton Rouge and Morgan City. The grand marshal, king and queen remain a secret until the krewe’s tableau, scheduled Jan. 27
Shaka, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
at Evergreen Cajun Center in Gray. Parade route: Martin Luther King Drive to School Street and St. Charles Street.
Turns onto East Fifth Street and Canal Boulevard, heading through downtown. Heads down Jackson Street and Gerald T.
Peltier Drive to end at Martin Luther King Drive. Captain: DeniseJones Adams of Thibodaux.
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Ambrosia 2 P.M. FEB. 4, THIBODAUX
Ambrosia, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
The 250-member co-ed parade, formed in 1975, will roll 12 floats under the theme the “Krewe of Ambrosia Travels in Time.” Riders will toss mugs and medallion beads bearing the krewe logo. Route: Starts on
Audubon Ave near the Nicholls State University stadium. It heads left onto Menard Street, then right onto Canal Boulevard. It turns left onto West 2nd Street then merges onto La. 1 before turning left onto Jackson Street. It
makes a U-turn at the first median crossover on Canal Boulevard before turning right onto Gerald T. Peltier Drive. It will turn onto Bayou Lane then right back onto Menard Street and right on Audubon Avenue before
finishing at Nicholls’ stadium. King: John Jansen of Thibodaux. Queen: Tonia Jansen of Thibodaux. Tableau captain: Denise Callais of Larose. Parade captain: Glenn Raffray.
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Aphrodite 6:30 P.M. FEB. 9, WEST HOUMA With 475 women members, the krewe’s 17 floats will roll under the theme “Football in the South.” Marching bands will include Ellender, South Terrebonne and Morgan City High, Evergreen Junior High and Lacache-Montegut Middle schools. Past queens will throw koozies. The krewe formed in 1983 and first paraded the following year. “We are a family friendly parade and throw a lot,” the
Aphrodite, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
krewe says. Route: Traditional west Houma route starts at Southland Mall, heads down Park Avenue and turns right onto
Hollywood Road, left onto Main Street and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall banquet hall at Bond Street.
Queen: Brenda Billiot of Houma. She and her husband Pierre Billiot Jr. have two children.
Athena 7 P.M. FEB. 9, GOLDEN MEADOW This krewe’s 288 women members will ride 17 floats under the theme “Athena Takes Over the Zoo.” Riders will wear costumes of various animals seen at the zoo. The krewe was established in 2011. Route: La. 1 from northern to southern town limits, roughly from Armand Street to Kelly Drive. Queen: Laura Dubois Guidry of
Athena, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
Golden Meadow. She and her
husband, Michael Guidry, have been
married 34 years.
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Apollo NOON FEB. 10, LOCKPORT The co-ed krewe was established in 1963, with the first parade in 1964. Richard Steven served as the krewe’s first grand marshal in 1967, with Xavier Chauvin as Apollo’s first king. The first throws and collector doubloons were issued in 1970. The krewe has about 150 members and 20 floats, with the captain of each choosing a theme. The krewe issues several awards at the parade
Apollo, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
reviewing stand, including prettiest costume and
most original float theme. Route: Starts at
Church and Eighth streets. Heads down Church, turns left on 10th Street, left on Lafourche Street and left on Second Street. It turns left on Justin Street, left on Crescent Avenue, right on Barataria Street, right on Main Street, right on Elizabeth Street and right on Crescent Avenue. It ends at Vacherie Street, just past the Town Hall.
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Atlantis
NOON FEB. 10, GOLDEN MEADOW
Atlantis, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
Atlantis is one of the first parades to roll in Golden Meadow, starting in 1984. The parade, with 70 men and women members and seven floats, will start at noon Feb. 10 under the theme “Atlantis
Rolls Thru the Decades.” “We own and self-maintain floats that are decorated according to the theme that is assigned each year,” krewe Captain Jason Bellanger says. ”We would
like for paradegoers to appreciate and enjoy all the hard work that is put into having this parade.” Route: La. 1 from northern to southern town limits, roughly from Armand Street to
Kelly Drive. King: Darryl Eymard of Cut Off. Queen: Joy V. Orgeron of Cut Off. Captain: Jason Bellanger of Cut Off.
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Bon Temps 6:30 P.M. FEB. 10, LAROSE
Bon Temps, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
In its 13th year, the co-ed krewe has about 200 members
and 10 floats. Route: The parade starts at the
new Larose Bridge at La. 657 and heads south along La. 1 to
La. 3161, near the Cajun Pecan House.
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MARDI GRAS GUIDE
Mardi Gras 6:30 P.M. FEB. 10, EAST HOUMA
Mardi Gras, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
Mardi Gras is the only krewe that parades in east Houma, formerly home to several parades. The co-ed krewe’s 350 members will roll 21 floats this year under the theme “Mardi Gras.” Marching bands from Ellender and St. James high schools, Grand Caillou Middle and Oaklawn Junior High will participate. The krewe was started in 1994 by
current Captain S.P. LaRussa, former Parish President Barry Bonvillain, businessman Arthur Breaux and the late Terrebonne Parish Councilman J.B. Breaux. All are natives of east Houma and wanted to see parades continue there after the city’s twin spans were completed. Unable to cross the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway as they did when the former East Main and West Park bridges were in
place, other krewes moved to west Houma. Grand marshal: Retired detective Rhodes “Rodie” Sanchez , retired Iberville Parish sheriff’s detective and star of the Discovery reality-TV series “Killing Fields.” Parade route: Starts on Grand Caillou Road at Hancock Road, near Houma-Terrebonne Airport entrance. Right onto Tunnel Boulevard and Howard Avenue.
Left onto East Main Street, left onto Grand Caillou Road, ending at East Houma Bingo Hall. King and queen: Kevin and Carla Ghere have been in the krewe eight years. They are the owners of Carla Ghere’s Crab Shack in Chauvin. They have been together for 20 years and married for 15 years. They have two children, Dylan and Shelby Ghere. Captain: S.P. LaRussa of Houma.
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Terreanians 12:30 P.M. FEB. 11, WEST HOUMA
Terreanians, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
The krewe, with more than 400 members, will roll about 20 floats under the theme “Wish Upon a Star.� Several local marching bands will participate.
Formed in 1950, the all-male krewe had 100 members when it paraded the following year. Route: Traditional west Houma route starts at Southland Mall, heads down
Park Avenue and turns right onto Hollywood Road, left onto Main Street and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall banquet hall at Bond Street.
King: Tommy Hebert. Queen: Corinne Page. Board president: Charles Kornegay. Parade captain: John Poiencot.
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Cleophas
12:30 P.M. FEB. 11, THIBODAUX The 250-member co-ed krewe has 20 floats that will roll under the theme “Cleophas Tours Broadway.” The Carnival club started in 1956 as an allmale krewe but stopped parading in the mid-1960s. It reorganized in 1971 and has rolled ever since as one of Lafourche Parish’s largest parades. “We are a very family-oriented krewe,” says Co-Captain Peggy Ordoyne. “We have a kiddie parade
in our float barn the day before our parade for the children of members, family and friends. We have a kiddie king and queen who also ride along with the krewe on parade day.” Route: Starts on Audubon Ave near the Nicholls State University stadium. It heads left onto Menard Street, then right onto Canal Boulevard. It turns left onto West 2nd Street then merges onto La. 1 before turning left onto Jackson
Cleophas, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
Street. It makes a U-turn at the first median crossover on Canal Boulevard before turning right onto Gerald T. Peltier Drive. It will turn onto Bayou Lane then right back onto Menard Street and right on Audubon Avenue before finishing at
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Nicholls’ stadium. King: Matthew Folse of Thibodaux. Queen: Julie Arabie of Thibodaux. Captain: Dennis “Cowboy” Rodrigue of Thibodaux. Co-captains: Peggy Ordoyne and Corial Folse of Thibodaux.
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Chronos
FOLLOWS CLEOPHAS, FEB. 11, THIBODAUX
Chronos, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
In its 64th year, this is the oldest of Lafourche Parish’s Carnival krewes. Its 200 members will roll a dozen floats through Thibodaux this year, accompanied by several marching bands.
Route: Starts on Audubon Ave near the Nicholls State University stadium. It heads left onto Menard Street, then right onto Canal Boulevard. It turns left onto West 2nd Street then merges
onto La. 1 before turning left onto Jackson Street. It makes a U-turn at the first median crossover on Canal Boulevard before turning right onto Gerald T. Peltier Drive. It will turn
onto Bayou Lane then right back onto Menard Street and right on Audubon Avenue, ending at Nicholls’ stadium. King: Dr. Steven Marcello. Queen: Talon Blanchard.
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Montegut Children’s Parade The krewe, started in 1946, is one of the oldest in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. “It was established by parents in the Montegut and Pointe-aux-Chenes area for children,” the club says. “Bourg was added many years later. Children living in the local areas can experience the love of Mardi Gras from a rider’s perspective.“ Parents and kids, some who volunteer and receive community service hours from schools, work to decorate the floats, which are also used on Mardi Gras by the Krewe of Bonne Terre in Montegut.
2 P.M. FEB. 11, MONTEGUT
Montegut Children’s Parade, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
This year, 200 children will ride 10 floats under the theme “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall.” The Lacache Middle School band will march. Route: Starts on Cross Street in front of Montegut
Middle School, left on Dolphin Drive then right onto La. 55. It turns left onto Cypress Street, left onto Mildred Street, left onto Oak Street and right onto La. 55. It then turns right onto Dolphin Street and right
Nereids
6 P.M. FEB. 11, GOLDEN MEADOW In its 34th year, Nereids was the first all-women’s krewe in Lafourche Parish. It has about 200 members who ride a dozen lighted floats.
Route: La. 1 from northern to southern town limits, roughly from Armand Street to Kelly Drive.
onto Cross Street, where it disbands. King: Robert Clement, son of Jeremy and Julie Clement of Bourg. Queen: Saige Naquin, daughter of Sterry and Wakina Naquin of Pointe-aux-Chenes.
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MARDI GRAS GUIDE
Happy Mardi Gras from the Krewe of Rue Barrow
EET BARROW STR
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Rue
Ma
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Cleopatra
6:30 P.M. FEB .12, WEST HOUMA
Cleopatra, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
The 625-member women’s krewe is the only one in Terrebonne and Lafourche that parades in Lundi Gras, the day before Mardi Gras. Its 20 floats will parade under the theme “Cleopatra’s Cartoon Rewind.” Eight marching bands include Terrebonne, H.L.
Bourgeois, Morgan City, Milby and South Plaquemines high schools, Grand Caillou Middle School, Copiah Academy and the Elevator Brass Band. Throws include doubloons, cups and light-ups. The krewe formed in 1987 and paraded the next year. It’s the
Houma-Thibodaux area’s largest women’s krewe, using floats from Metairie’s Caesar parade. Route: Traditional west Houma route starts at Southland Mall, heads down Park Avenue and turns right onto Hollywood Road, left onto Main Street and right
onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall banquet hall at Bond Street. Queen: Amy Kraemer of Thibodaux has been a krewe member for 30 years. She and her husband, Ronnie Kraemer, have two children, Joshua Beeson and Hayden Kraemer.
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Gheens
11 A.M. FEB. 13, GHEENS
Gheens, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
This parade started as a country affair in the early 1970s. It included a tradition in which costumed revelers put on face paint and chased people through
the community on Mardi Gras. Some of that still takes place, but the celebration of family and friends has evolved into a more traditional parade that
includes about 100 riders and a dozen homemade floats. Route: Starts at La. 654 about two blocks before Pecan Street. Turns right onto Pecan then left up Oak Street and
right onto La. 654, ending at Company Canal. Board president: Beth Champagne. Captain: Alicia Arabie.
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MARDI GRAS GUIDE
JANUARY 27-28, 2018
Houmas
NOON FEB. 13, WEST HOUMA Formed in 1946, Houmas is the oldest krewe in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. It’s named after the area’s first settlers and the city’s namesake, the Houma Indians. The king’s toast in downtown Houma is a highlight of the city’s Fat Tuesday celebration. The men’s krewe’s 315 members will roll 17 floats this year under the theme “It’s Mardi Gras, Y’all.” Marching bands include Vandebilt High and Houma and Oaklawn junior highs, all of Houma; McNairy Central High of Selmer, Tenn.; Copiah Academy of Gallman, Miss., Milby High of Houston; St. Helena High of Greensburg, La., Port Allen High
Houmas, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
of Port Allen, La. and Carroll High of Monroe. Route: Traditional west Houma route starts at Southland Mall, heads down Park Avenue and
turns right onto Hollywood Road, left onto Main Street and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall building. King: James J.
Petrella of Houma. Queen: Mary Catherine Watkins of Houma. Captain: Fred Fondren of Houma.
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Kajuns
FOLLOWS HOUMAS, FEB. 13
Kajuns, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
In its 52nd year, this krewe’s roughly 350 members include children and adults, many of them families
and friends. They’ll ride about a dozen floats this year. Route: Traditional west Houma route
starts at Southland Mall, heads down Park Avenue and turns right onto Hollywood Road, left onto Main
Street and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall banquet hall at Bond Street.
Before or After the Parade! 6240 West Main Street, Houma • 985-876-1834
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MARDI GRAS GUIDE
Neptune NOON FEB. 13, GOLDEN MEADOW
Neptune, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
This all-male krewe has about 100 members and a dozen floats. The Carnival club was started in 1966 by Bobby Orgeron,
F. “Toot” Theriot, Leonard Miller Jr., Harris Cheramie and Norman Theriot. The krewe’s first king and queen were Mr. and Mrs.
Peoples
Abdon Callais. The king’s identity remains secret until parade day. Route: Starts at St. Joseph Catholic
Church in Galliano and rolls south along La. 1 the southern city limits of Golden Meadow, near Kelly Drive.
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Choupic 1 P.M. FEB. 13, CHACKBAY In its 35th year, this family-oriented krewe has about 150 members and 10 floats. Route: The parade starts on the north end of La. 304, ending a few miles later at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church.
Choupic, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
Ghana
1 P.M. FEB. 13, THIBODAUX
Ghana, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
This predominantly African-American krewe was formed in 1972 by members of the Marvalettes
Social Club and others. The krewe has about 10 floats. Parade route: Martin Luther King
Drive to School Street and St. Charles Street. Turns onto East Fifth Street and Canal Boulevard,
heading through downtown. Heads down Jackson Street and Gerald T. Peltier Drive to end at Goode Street.
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JANUARY 27-28, 2018
MARDI GRAS GUIDE
Bonne Terre 4 P.M. FEB. 13, MONTEGUT
Bonne Terre, 2017 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
The 115-member co-ed krewe will roll 10 floats and 10 trucks under the theme “Once Upon a Nightmare.” The South Terrebonne High marching band will participate. In its 46th year, the parade is a Mardi Gras tradition for residents
of Montegut and surrounding areas. “Our paradegoers should enjoy a fun, laid-back, family-oriented experience,” the krewe says. Route: Starts on Dolphin Drive near Cross Street and heads to La. 55. It then rolls south to
Cypress Street, left on Mildred Street, left on Old Oak Drive, right onto La. 55 and right onto Dolphin Drive to Cross Street, where it disbands. King: Alton Verdin Jr. of Pointeaux-Chenes has been a boat captain for LeBeouf Bros.
Towing in Bourg. Queen: Mary Dupre Verdin of Pointe-aux-Chenes was also 1998 Montegut Children’s Parade queen. Ball captain: Charlene Pitre of Montegut. Parade captain: Jason Lirette of Houma.
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MARDI GRAS GUIDE
Parade Routes ophas and Chronos
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MARDI GRAS GUIDE
JANUARY 27-28, 2018
Parade Routes West Houma parades Parades will begin at Southland Mall on Park Avenue rtin Ma
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Parades end at Town Hall at Barrow and Bond streets
90
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MARDI GRAS GUIDE
6154 West Park Ave. Houma 985-346-6811
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