Queen Oshun XVI, Taisha Williams-Payne, rides up Napoleon Avenue on Friday evening. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
Under absolutely perfect weather, two regal parades kicked off the first major weekend of parading in New Orleans on Friday night. The Krewe of Oshun celebrated children as it held its place as the first parade of the weekend, and the Krewe of Cleopatra made their debut on the Uptown route on the fortieth anniversary of their parade.
Queen Cleopatra XL, Malinda Phillips Bertrand, smiles from her throne as her float rolls up Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Krewe of Oshun
Two children throw beads from a float in the Krewe of Oshun, whose 2013 theme was “The Children are Our Future.” (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
A mother and child throw beats from a float in Oshun. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
A rider on the Oshun “Goddesses of Wealth” float hands out leopard-print spears. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
King Shango, Damon Payne, rides up Napoleon Avenue on his float in the Oshun parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The O. Perry Walker marching band performs on Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Halo Saint rides on a float full of “super fans” in the Oshun parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The “Music” float in the Oshun parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
A rider in the Krewe of Oshun. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Krewe of Cleopatra
The captain of the Cleopatra parade looks out over the crowd from the lead float. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
A float in the Cleopatra parade on Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The “Dreams of Conquest” float in the Cleopatra parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
A rider in Cleopatra throws beads from atop her float. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The “If I Ruled the World” float in the Cleopatra parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
Parade-goers clamor for beads from the final float in the Cleopatra parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
For live comments and photos from the parade route Friday night, see below.
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