Mardi Gras

Rolling Saturday: Legion of Mars debuts, leading the way for Pontchartrain, Choctaw, Freret and Pygmalion

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The first Saturday has long been very full parade day, with five krewes and their accompanying bands and dancers keeping the Uptown route lively from early afternoon until late evening. Now it’s even livelier. A new parade, the Legion of Mars, debuts this year, making the number of parades an even half-dozen. The krewe made up of military members, veterans and first-responders has previously paraded with the Krewe of Freret and with the Krewe of Alla. This year, for the first time, it has a parade of its own, leading the way on the first Saturday of Uptown parades.

Rolling today and tonight: Pontchartrain, Choctaw, Freret, Sparta, Pygmalion

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Saturday is very full parade day, with five krewes and their accompanying bands and dancers keeping the Uptown route lively from early afternoon until late evening. The National Weather Service promises a mostly sunny day with highs near 60 degrees. In the evening, clear skies and a low around 46 degrees are expected. The route

All parades will follow the same abbreviated route:
Start: Napoleon Avenue and Prytania Street
Proceed down Napoleon
Right on St. Charles Avenue
Proceed on St.

Mardi Gras

Choctaw parties like it was 1999 during daytime parade (photo gallery)

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The Krewe of Choctaw rolled Uptown Saturday (Feb. 15) with the theme “Party Like It’s 1999.” The krewe’s 85th parade featured 16 floats, marching bands and walking clubs. The 275 men, women and children riding floats tossed Choctaw’s collectible doubloons, plush spears and tomahawks, logo beads, cups and the coveted, painted wooden tomahawks decorated by krewe members. Chief Choctaw Ricky DeCastro Jr. and his Princess Kristen DeCastro Sepulveda reigned this year.