Pygmalion travels to Italy by way of Uptown (photo gallery)

The Krewe of Pygmalion rolled Uptown Saturday (Feb. 15) with 550 male and female members aboard 25 floats. “Viaggia In Italia” (Travel to Italy) was the theme of the 21st annual parade which also included marching bands and dance groups. Cary Oswald and Kalli Mercer reigned as King and Queen Pygmalion XXI. Float riders tossed lighted themed logo beads, wands, Venetian masks, roses and bracelets.

Knights of Sparta rolls Uptown with the theme ‘On the Street Where You Live’ (photo gallery)

The Knights of Sparta rolled Saturday (Feb. 15) with the theme “On the Street Where You Live.” The 300 knights rode 17 floats named after famous streets such as Via Veneto in Rome, Avenue de Champs Elysees in Parish and St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. The captain and officers rode horseback. Fabian Errol Miller and Shannon Barbara Garrety reigned as King and Queen.

Freret fills Uptown with the music of New Orleans (photo gallery)

The Krewe of Freret rolled their seventh parade Saturday (Feb. 15) with the theme “The Music of New Orleans.” The 18-float parade featured a dozen super floats, including one with a two-story Trombone Shorty figure with a moving slide. The 500-member male and female club plans for a gradual transformation into a superkrewe. Float riders tossed their signature hand-crafted masks along with blinking logo beads, black and gold sunglasses and tambourines. Hans Gerwitz and Holly Alvendia reigned as king and queen.

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

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.

Pontchartrain blew the crowd away with blue theme (photo gallery)

The Krewe of Pontchartrain’s 45th annual parade rolled Saturday (Feb. 15) with the theme “Pontchartrain Blues.” The 17-float parade included a special float for the Captain Emeritus and founder Sam Scandialiato, who served from 1976 through 2017. Floats included the Blue Plate Special, Blue Man Group and Blue Suede Shoes. Steven John Daigle reigned as King Pontchartrain and Kera Colleen Aparicio as Queen. The 400 men and women riding tossed the krewe’s medallion beads along with 38-inch pearl mini-grouper beads, blue straw hats and crawfish trays.

Alla salutes America’s military and first-responders (photo gallery)

The Krewe of Alla rolled through Uptown ons Friday (Feb. 14) for the first time in their new Friday night parade slot. The krewe’s 88th annual parade featured 22 floats decorated in the theme “Friday Night Flicks & Fun,” with a special salute to America’s military and first-responders in partnership with the Legion of Mars. Dr. Marc Matrana and Heather Green Matrana reigned as King and Queen Alla LXXXVIII.

Cleopatra’s Vixens and Valentines charm the crowds on the Uptown route (photo gallery)

The Krewe of Cleopatra’s 47th annual parade rolled through Uptown on Friday (Feb. 14) with the them “Cleopatra’s Vixens and Valentines.” The 70 units included 21 floats, marching bands and walking clubs. The all-female krewe has 1,500 member with Amanda Roudolfich reigning as Queen Cleopatra XLVII. Signature throws included lighted heart items such as sunglasses, rings, wands, head boppers and hula hoops.

Oshun spreads message of love on Valentine’s Day (photo gallery)

The Krewe of Oshun traveled the Uptown route Friday (Feb. 14) with the theme “The Message is Love.” The group’s 24th annual parade featured 18 floats decorated with hearts and flowers to recognize Valentine’s Day. Marching bands, walking clubs and dance troupes, including Baby Dolls, were part of the nearly 50 units that made up the parade. Around 300 male and female member tossed handmade fans, theme beads, peacock krewe beads, lighted batons and lighted peacock rings.

City remembers, celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy (photo gallery)

The Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday was celebrated in New Orleans Monday (Jan. 20) with a Commemorative Celebration at the New Orleans Jazz Market and a Remembrance March that began at the corner of Martin Luther King and Oretha Castle Haley boulevards. The standing-room-only crowd at the Jazz Market was treated to several motivating musical performances and speeches. More than 134 units from church groups to marching bands joined the Remembrance March that traveled up Martin Luther King Boulevard to Claiborne, to Washington Avenue ending at A.L. Davis Park where the celebration continued. The theme for the event was “Remember, Celebrate and Act.”

Phorty Phellows welcome Carnival 2020 in Phunny fashion

Dressed in satirical costumes, the Phunny Phorty Phellows took their annual streetcar ride through Uptown celebrating Twelfth Night on Monday, Jan. 6, signaling the beginning of the 2020 Carnival season. The Phellows are a historic Mardi Gras organization revived in 1981 to fill a Twelfth Night void and herald the season with a ride on Uptown’s historic streetcar. Before the ride, they are joined by the Krewe of Oak at the Willow Streetcar Barn for the Carnival Countdown and a toast to the season.