See and hear Louisiana Mardi Gras '13!     A rider on a Thoth float. This Nola parade is a marathon. (right)

Vendredi Gras in Baton Rouge Southdowns After our 1000 mile trek south, we usually get to Baton Rouge just in time for this small, but energetic truck parade in the Southdowns neighborhood. Web Photo Display by VisualLightBox.com v4.8

Samedi Gras in Baton Rouge

Spanish Town A laid back yet raucous truck parade with krewes made up of mostly local bars. The parade takes a stab at political satire fitting for the state capital. While some of the jokes are raunchy, they usually fly over the kids' heads. The route ends in the historic Spanish Town neighborhood, which keeps the party going all night. It was a bit chilly, so Andrew huddled up next to the barricades. Before the Spanish Town parade took the streets, cops cleared the path of the people playing football, selling wares, or just walking the route. The anticipation is unbearable. We can hear helicopters and noise blocks away. Finally here comes the king and queen of Spanish Town aboard their raucous float. The Spanish Town parade is one where you could be knocked unconscious by a five pound bag of beads. Spanish Town was coming to terms with the demise of the Hostess Company this year. Your usual plywood Spanish Town float. Usually they were sponsored by local bars and drinking clubs. We walked the riverwalk in Baton Rouge after the parade where we saw the French imperial flag. The U.S.S. Kidd is docked along the levee in Baton Rouge. After the parade the people of the Spanish Town neighborhood enjoy huge parties that last into the night. Web Photo Display by VisualLightBox.com v4.8

Dimanche Gras in NoLa & Metairie

Okeanos Okeanos is a very democratic krewe, created in 1949. They are well known for their elaborate ball. They roll some very creative floats every year with recurring characters and lots of music. Mid-City Mid-City always rolls very beautiful foil covered floats. Its members are always dressed in formal wear and, although this parade is short, it is quite a spectacle. Thoth This krewe is large and energetic, especially in comparison to the other krewes that roll the same day. They have fans from all over thanks to their charity work. They parade by hospitals to bring the Mardi Gras to the infirm. We have seen them for years now and every year we have to watch our heads because it rains beads when they roll by. Napoleon  This Metairie krewe lights up the night with their floats. They honor Louisiana's French heritage. It is a family friendly affair, compared to the chaos that erupts a few miles south in Nola at night. Welcome to New Orleans, where we could track the parade via an app on our phones. A big fan wearing a dubloon-encrusted vest. Every high school within a 1000 miles marches with the musical Okeanos krewe. In fact, music was the theme of this years' Okeanos parade. The strangest float in Okeanos dedicated to and carrying some local Nola musical celebrity. Throwing a baubel for the crowd. A half-drunk brass band following the Okeanos parade. Showing off the booty from Okeanos. We got up close thanks to the generosity of locals. Mid-City is always escorted by these traditional Nola equestrian "chiefs." The Mid-City parade is a formal, old-fashioned affair. Here is the king. The floats of Mid-City are decorated with shiny, colorful foil. The Mid-City gator of death: a work of art, not just a float. The crowd calling for baubels from Mid-City riders. A brass band to set the mood on St. Charles. Death is coming for everyone and time is running out so remember YOLO. A pile of skulls to remind parade goers of their impending deaths. Andrew doesn't care. He's all about the Mid-City chips he caught. The irony is beautiful... After Mid-City it was time for a snack and to sit a spell. Crowds build for Thoth. The Thoth parade theme: "Thoth salutes the kings." The king of Thoth ushers in his huge, formerly sober krewe. The Thoth riders are very generous with their baubels and usually sim for hard to throw-to places A huge double decker Thoth float. The zombie King of Pop makes his way down St. Charles Avenue. "You want some beads or something?" Thoth's tribute to Chicago's king of crime. Thoth riders consider launching the wares to the people on the rooftops. How about a little wink to jingositic nationalism? The queen of Thoth greets the crowds as her maids throw piles of dubloons into the street. Looking east toward Canal Street. Later that night we enjoyed the relaxing suburban Napoleon parade. Web Photo Display by VisualLightBox.com v4.8

Lundi & Mardi Gras on Highway 61

We hoped to enjoy the Zulu party on Lundi Gras, but terrible rain showers forced us north for Lundi Gras. We took US-61 to Natchez and then northeast along the Natchez Trace, staying in Tunica, MS. The next morning we were able to get to the St. Louis Zoo in time to enjoy a couple hours before heading back into wintry Chicago.  Historic Natchez, MS, is full of palatial antebellum "town homes" like this one. We drove north along the Natchez Trace for some history and scenery. Stopping by the ghostly Windsor ruins in the rain. This used to be a stately mansion. A small swamp along the Trace, filled with bald cypress trees. We slept on Lundi Gras near Memphis, hoping for a dry Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras on the back of the big turtle statue in St. Louis' Turtle Park. Two baby elephants in the St. Louis Zoo. A very small Mardi Gras parade in St. Louis. Don't touch that chew toy! There were no lines at the seal exhibit since it was about 35 degrees. Web Photo Display by VisualLightBox.com v4.8