Mardi Gras Guide 2020

MARDI GRAS GUIDE 2020

YOUR GUIDE TO ALL THE PARADES IN TERREBONNE AND LAFOURCHE PARISHES

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Mardi Gras 2020: How we got here

By Bill Ellzey Correspondent 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 4 0,0 0 0 - 5 0,0 0 0 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. 25.

The first major

parade, Houma’s Krewe of Hercules, is scheduled to roll at 6 p.m. Feb. 14.

The annual celebration originated in the calendar of the predominant Catholic Church.

It was the last opportunity among the faithful to dance, party, feast and drink before the restrictions of the 40-day Lenten season that starts 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 sugar-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 Some 30 parades are scheduled

Feb. 15: Tee Caillou, noon, Chau-

ma; Athena, 7 p.m., Golden Meadow.

Nereids, 6 p.m. Golden Meadow.

to roll in Terrebonne and Lafourche

vin; Le Krewe of Des T. Cajuns,

Feb. 22: Mardi Gras, 6:30 p.m.,

Feb. 24: Cleopatra, 6:30 p.m.,

parishes through Fat Tuesday, Feb.

noon, Larose, Aquarius, 6:30 p.m.,

Houma; Apollo, noon, Lockport; Bon

Houma.

25. The first major parade, Houma’s

Houma.

Temps, 6:30 p.m., Larose; Atlantis,

Feb. 25: Bonne Terre, 11 a.m., Mon-

Krewe of Hercules, is scheduled to

Feb. 16: Hyacinthians, noon, Hou-

noon, Golden Meadow, Grand Isle,

tegut; Gheens, 11 a.m., Gheens;

roll at 6 p.m. Feb. 14.

ma, followed by Titans; Versailles,

Grand Isle, 1 p.m.

Houmas, 1 p.m., Houma, followed by

Here’s a complete schedule:

noon, Larose; Shaka, 1:30 p.m.,

Feb. 23: Terreanians, 12:30 p.m.,

Kajuns, Choupic, 1 p.m., Chackbay;

Feb. 9: Des Petite Lions children’s

Thibodaux, followed by Ambrosia,

Houma;

Ghana, 1 p.m., Thibodaux; Neptune,

parade, 1 p.m., Golden Meadow.

2 p.m.

followed by Chronos, Thibodaux;

Feb. 14: Hercules, 6 p.m., Houma.

Feb. 21: Aphrodite, 6:30 p.m., Hou-

Montegut Children’s Parade, 2 p.m.;

Cleophas,

12:30

p.m.,

noon, Golden Meadow.

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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: The

area around Good Earth Transit’s main terminal at Barataria Avenue and Main Street is designated an alcohol-, drug- and tobacco-free zone.

•Family friendly Areas: Near Southland Mall and the intersections of Columbus and Main streets.

Best spots in Thibodaux: •To catch a parade twice or get to a second parade: Audubon Avenue along the Nicholls State University campus.

• Fa m i l y - f r i e n d ly 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, Terrebonne 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. FEB. 9, GOLDEN MEADOW

Des Petite Lions, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] The krewe, with about 125 children and their parents, will hold its 14th 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 continue because in our high tech world, where ev-

eryone 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.

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Hercules

6 P.M. FEB. 14, WEST HOUMA

Hercules, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] The largest krewe in Terrebonne and Lafourche, its 750 male members will roll 32 floats in its 36th anniversary under the theme “Hollywood South.”

Marching bands from Terrebonne High School, H.L. Bourgeois High School, Ellender Memorial High School and Houma Junior High School 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 and floats from the previous year’s Bacchus and Endymion parades, some of the largest in New Orleans’ Carnival celebration.

Parade route: Tra-

ditional west Houma route starts at Southland Mall, heads down Park Avenue and turns left onto Hollywood Road, right onto Main Street and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall banquet hall at Bond Street.

King: James Bonvillain of Houma.

He started out delivering newspapers on his bicycle as a child and has worked the major-

ity of his life in the oilfield until his retirement in 2018.

He has worked on the load out crew for 29 years and has been in charge of the load out crew for several years now. He has been a member of the Krewe of Hercules for a total of seven years.

Captain: Krewe founder S.P. LaRussa.

Tee-Caillou

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NOON FEB. 15, CHAUVIN

Tee-Caillou, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] In its 34th year, this children’s parade rolls includes 10 floats and 250 members.

King: Austin Boudreaux.

Queen: Logan LiretteAngele’ Chauvin.

Captain: Austin Boudreaux.

Route: Rolls south along La. 56 from the Chauvin Pool

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8 SPRING 2020 | MARDI GRAS GUIDE

Des T. Cajuns

NOON FEB. 15, LAROSE Roughly 200 children ages 4-16 will ride in this parade, which has about two dozen floats.

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, sched-

Des T. Cajuns, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] uled Feb. 16 at the Holy Rosary Cafeteria. 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. 15, WEST HOUMA The 712-member women’s krewe will roll 27 floats under the theme “Diggin the 70’s.” Marching bands include Central Lafourche High School, H.L. Bourgeois High School, Morgan City High School, Evergreen Jr. High, Oaklawn Jr. High and Grand Caillou Middle.

Throws will include Krewe beads, bracelets, coin purses, balls, wands and glow balls.

Tana Marcel and Nancy Carlos formed the krewe 1994 and its first

Aquarius, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] parade rolled the same year with 147 members. Among its charity work, the krewe donates to Toys for Tots, the local food bank and will host an Easter Extravaganza at Houma’s Courthouse 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 left onto Hollywood Road, right onto Main Street and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall banquet hall at Bond Street.

Queen: Renee King of Gray. A krewe member for 7 years, she will be escorted by her husband, Jovian D. Jones.

Ball captain: Vickie Boudreaux.

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Hyacinthians

NOON FEB. 16, WEST HOUMA With over 450 members, the Ladies Carnival Club has 19 floats, this year rolling under the theme “Hyacinthians Celebrates the Big Easy.”

Formed in 1951, the krewe staged its first parade the following year. The identities of the queen and king, Gardeline Sharp and Conrad Lirette,

Hyacinthians, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] were revealed at parade time.

The signature throws are the Top Hat and Fascinator.

The members dec-

orate the Top Hats and Fascinators each year to mirror their float theme or the parade theme.

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 and Queen: David and Sheila Poiencot of Dularge.

Titans

FEB. 16, FOLLOWS HYACINTHIANS, WEST HOUMA

Titans 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] Started in 2008, the krewe has over 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 left onto Hollywood Road, right onto

Main Street and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall banquet hall at Bond Street.

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Versailles

NOON FEB. 16, LAROSE In its 47th year, the co-ed krewe has about 250 members and 22 floats with the theme, “The Elements of Versailles: Earth, Air, Fire, & Water.” The South Lafourche High School and Larose Cut Off Junior High bands will march.

Route: Starts at the Larose Civic Center and rolls up Fifth St. It crosses Bayou Lafourche

Versailles, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] at the Larose Pontoon Bridge and heads south along La. 1, disbanding at Cut Off Elementary School.

King and Queen:

Elmo “Jay” Pitre, III and Wendy Lauga Thibodeaux.

Pitre is currently a commissioner of the North Lafourche Levee Dis-

trict and has also served as Captain of Versailles for the past 5 years.

Thibodeaux, the Lafourche Parish Assessor, is the Chairperson of the Louisiana Assessor’s Association’s Watercraft Committee and serves on the Assessors’ Oil and Gas and Orientation Committees.

Captain: Wilbur Guy Cloutier, III.

Shaka

1:30 P.M. FEB. 16, THIBODAUX Shaka, a predominantly Afr i c a n -A m e r i c a n krewe with 19 men and women members, will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.

The parade, with 20 floats, will roll under the theme “African Extravaganza.” Float riders throw cups, beads and coconuts. The parade will include three marching bands from surrounding parishes, St. James High School, Jim Hill

Shaka, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] High School and Holmes County High School.

The grand marshal, king and queen remain a secret until the krewe’s tableau,

scheduled for Feb. 7 at Assumption Parish Community Center in Napoleonville.

Parade route: Starting at Nicholls State Univer-

sity, traveling on Audubon Ave., left onto Menard Street, right on Canal Blvd., left onto W. Second Street, merge onto La. 1, left onto Jackson St., make a U-turn at the median crossover of Jackson and Canal Blvd., right onto Gerald T. Peltier.

The parade will finish at Martin Luther King Park.

Captain: Denise-Jones Adams of Thibodaux.

Ambrosia

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2 P.M. FEB. 24, THIBODAUX

Ambrosia, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] The co-ed parade, formed in 1975, will roll 12 floats with the theme, “Ambrosia Celebrates New Orleans Nightlife.” Riders will toss mugs, beads, Yardstick gum, frisbees and fans.

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: Glenn A. Haydel of Thibodaux.

Queen: Debra Hebert Haydel of Thibodaux.

Parade captain: Glenn Raffray of Schriever.

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Athena

7 P.M. FEB. 21, GOLDEN MEADOW

Athena, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] This krewe’s 288 women members will ride over a doz-

en floats.

The krewe was established in 2011.

Route: La. 1 from northern to southern town limits,

roughly from Armand Street to Kelly Drive.

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Aphrodite

6:30 P.M. FEB 21, WEST HOUMA With 475 women members, the krewe’s 20 floats will roll under the theme “Aphrodite in the Spotlight.”

Marching bands will include H.L. Bourgeois High School, Montegut Middle School, South Terrebonne High School, Ellender Memorial High School and Houma Junior High.

The krewe, which formed in 1983 and first paraded the following year will throw court cups, doubloons, “lots of light-up stuff” and balls.

“We are a family friendly parade and throw a lot,” the krewe says.

Route: Traditional

Aphrodite, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] 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: Jan Bru-

net of Houma.

Ball Captain: Nanette McElroy.

Parade Captain: Parrish Valure.

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Apollo

NOON FEB. 22, LOCKPORT

Apollo, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] 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 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. 22, GOLDEN MEADOW

Atlantis, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] Atlantis was one of the first parades to roll in Golden Meadow, starting in 1984.

The parade, with 50 men and women members and

seven floats, will start at noon Feb. 22 under the theme “Atlantis Does Game Night.”

“We would like for paradegoers to appreciate and enjoy

all the hard work that is put into having this parade,” the krewe says.

Route: La. 1 from northern to southern town limits, roughly from Ar-

mand Street to Kelly Drive.

Captain: Jason Bellanger of Cut Off.

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Bon Temps

6:30 P.M. FEB. 22, LAROSE

Bon Temps, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] In its 15th year, the co-ed krewe has about 300 members and 11 floats with the theme, “Geaux Tigers! a

Tribute to LSU Nation.”

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.

Queen: Tracy Wisehart Plaisance

of Larose.

Captain: Toby Hebert of Larose.

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Mardi Gras

6 P.M. FEB. 22, EAST HOUMA Mardi Gras is the only krewe that parades in east Houma, formerly home to several parades.

The co-ed krewe’s over 300 members will roll 18 floats this year under the theme “Mardi Gras.”

Marching bands from Ellender High School, Oaklawn Junior High School and Grand Caillou Middle School 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

Mardi Gras 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] were in place, other krewes moved to west Houma.

Grand marshal: Retired NFL player Michael Lewis, who played for the Saints as well as the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.

In 2002, Lewis set an NFL record for combined kickpunt return yardage with 2,432 yards total (1,807 kickoff, 625 punt).

He is currently the Saints’ all-time career leader in punt returns (142) and punt return yardage (1,482). Today, Lewis continues his NFL dream as the “Team Am-

bassador” for the Saints. Although no longer playing, Lewis was awarded a Super Bowl ring after the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV in recognition of his continuing role with the team.

Parade route: Starts on Grand Caillou Road at Woodlawn Ranch Road, near Grand Caillou Middle School. 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: Houma native

Delmar Kelly of Houston, Texas and Tessie Meyers of Houma. Kelly has been riding with the Krewe of Mardi Gras for four years and has been sponsoring the “Turn Down for What” float for 8 years. Meyers has three children, 10 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She has been riding with the Krewe of Mardi Gras for 25 years and float captain for “Turn Down for What” float for 20 years.

Captain: S.P. LaRussa of Houma.

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Terreanians

12:30 P.M. FEB. 23, WEST HOUMA The krewe, with more than 450 members, will roll 24 floats under the theme “Larger Than Life.” Marching bands from Sam Houston High School, Assumption High School, Terrebonne High School, West St. Mary High School, Vandebilt Catholic High School, Evergreen Junior High, Houma Junior High, Lacache/ Montegut Middle School, Franklin

Terreanians, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] High School and Dunbar Magnet Middle School from Little Rock, Ark. 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 South-

land 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 and Queen: Donnie Braud of Houma and Emily Anne Emerson of Houma.

Captain: Charles Kornegay.

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20 SPRING 2020 | MARDI GRAS GUIDE

Cleophas

12:30 P.M. FEB. 23, THIBODAUX

Cleophas, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] The 230-member co-ed krewe has about two dozen floats.

The Carnival club started in 1956 as an all-male krewe but stopped parading in the mid1960s. It reorga-

nized in 1971 and has rolled ever since as one of Lafourche Parish’s largest parades.

Route: Starts on Audubon Ave. near the Nicholls State University stadium. It heads

left onto Menard Street, then right onto Canal Blvd.

It turns left onto W. Second Street then merges onto La. 1 before turning left onto Jackson St. It makes a U-turn at the old

railroad tracks on Canal Blvd. before turning right onto Menard Street and right on Audubon Avenue before finishing at Nicholls’ stadium.

SPRING 2020 | MARDI GRAS GUIDE 21

Chronos

FOLLOWS CLEOPHAS, FEB. 23, THIBODAUX

Chronos, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] In its 66th year, this is the oldest of Lafourche Parish’s Carnival krewes.

Its 200 members will roll 15 floats through Thibodaux this year, throwing footballs, beads, frisbees, and cups with the Krewe’s logo. The theme of

the parade is “Beyond the Sea.” 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 Bay-

ou Lane then right back onto Menard Street and right on Audubon Avenue, ending at Nicholls’ stadium.

King: Mark Francis Hebert of Thibodaux.

Queen: Elizabeth Lauren Vander of Thibodaux.

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Cleopatra

6:30 P.M. FEB. 24, WEST HOUMA

Cleopatra, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] The 680-member women’s krewe is the only one in Terrebonne and Lafourche that parades in Lundi Gras, the day before Mardi Gras.

Its 22 floats will parade under the theme “Cleopatra’s Childhood Memories.”

Eight marching bands include Langston Univer-

sity, Terrebonne, H.L. Bourgeois, Morgan City, St. James and South Plaquemines high schools, and Oaklawn Junior High School and Grand Caillou Middle School.

Throws include light-up beads, doubloons, footballs, frisbees, doubloons and koozies.

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 left onto Hollywood Road, right onto Main Street

and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall banquet hall at Bond Street.

Queen: Eva Filer of Houma. A member of the krewe for 24 years, Yelverton has served as float captain and board member.

Captain: Karen Rhodes of Houma.

SPRING 2020 | MARDI GRAS GUIDE 23

Montegut Children’s Parade 2 P.M. FEB. 23, MONTEGUT

Montegut Children’s Parade, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] 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-auxChenes 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.

This year, 150 children will ride 10 floats under the theme “Halloween,” and throw

beads, stuffed animals and flowers.

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 onto Cross Street, where it disbands.

King: Tegan Tomlin of Montegut, son of Donald and April Tomlin.

Queen: Layla Chaisson of Montegut, daughter of Randy Chaisson and Crystal Williams.

Ball Captains: Cullen Chauvin and Kayli Leblanc.

24 SPRING 2020 | MARDI GRAS GUIDE

Nereids

6 P.M. FEB. 23, GOLDEN MEADOW

Nereids, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] In its 36th 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 Ar-

Gheens

11 A.M. FEB. 25, GHEENS 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 150 riders and 15 homemade floats.

Gheens, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] 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.

SPRING 2020 | MARDI GRAS GUIDE 25

Houmas

1 P.M. FEB. 25, 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 335 members will roll 17 floats this year under the theme “Cheers to Mardi Gras.” The Mississippi Valley State University marching band will participate, along with invited bands from Vandebilt Catholic High School, Westgate

Houmas, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] High School, East Feliciana High School, St. Helena CCA, West St. Mary High School, West Feliciana High School, Ever-

green Junior High, St. James High School, Northeast High School and South Terrebonne High School.

The krewe throws

emblemed necklaces and doubloons in addition to the Houmas’ medallion bead.

Route: Traditional west Houma route starts at Southland Mall, heads down Park Avenue and turns left onto Hollywood Road, right onto Main Street and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall building.

King: Joseph Elton Boudreaux, II of Houma.

Queen: Sydney Alyse Huber of Houma.

Captain: Jackie Clement of Houma.

Before or After the Parade!

6240 West Main Street, Houma • 985-876-1834

26 SPRING 2020 | MARDI GRAS GUIDE

Kajuns

FOLLOWS HOUMAS, FEB. 25

Kajuns, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] In its 53rd year, this krewe’s roughly 425 members include children and adults, many of them families and friends. They’ll ride 21 floats this year with the theme,

“Kajuns Roll on the Big Screen.”

Route: Traditional west Houma route starts at Southland Mall, heads down Park Avenue and turns left onto Hollywood Road, right

onto Main Street and right onto Barrow Street, ending at the Town Hall banquet hall at Bond Street.

Grand Marshal: Jonathan Foret of Houma. Foret is

the executive director of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center.

Captain: Mona Premeaux of Houma.

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Neptune

NOON FEB. 25, GOLDEN MEADOW

Neptune, 2019 [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. Abdon Callais.

The king’s identity remains secret until parade day.

Route: Starts at St. Joseph Catho-

lic Church in Galliano and rolls south along La. 1 the southern city limits of Golden Meadow, near Kelly Drive.

28 SPRING 2020 | MARDI GRAS GUIDE

Choupic

1 P.M. FEB. 25, CHACKBAY

Choupic, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] In its 36th year, this fa m i l y- o r i e n te d krewe has about

150 members and six floats.

Route: The parade

starts on the north end of La. 304, ending a few miles

later at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church.

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Ghana

1 P.M. FEB. 25, THIBODAUX 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.

Ghana, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]

Bonne Terre

11 A.M. FEB. 25, MONTEGUT

Bonne Terre, 2019 [The Courier and Daily Comet/File] The co-ed krewe will roll 10 floats under the theme “Cartoon Rewind.”

The Lacache Middle School marching band will participate.

In its 47th 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: Joshua Landry of Chauvin.

Queen: Autumn Pitre of Chauvin.

Ball captains: Penny Pinell and Hollie Eschete of Montegut.

Parade captain: Jason Lirette of Bourg.

30 SPRING 2020 | MARDI GRAS GUIDE

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SPRING 2020 | MARDI GRAS GUIDE 31

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32 SPRING 2020 | MARDI GRAS GUIDE

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