Uptown Messenger file photo
Henry Myers gets a boost to catch beads during the 2019 Krewe of Thoth parade. (Uptown Messenger)
Krewe of Okeanos
An LSU-themed float rides down St. Charles Avenue with the Krewe of Okeanos in 2019. (Uptown Messenger)
It’s been 71 years since Okeanos first rolled on St. Claude Avenue to give its downtown neighborhood a Carnival parade of its own. The krewe named for the Greek god who created the rivers now parades up the river on the Uptown route, with 320 riders on 23 floats. The theme this year is “Okeanos Honors the Gods.”
Watch for: Themed floats include one devoted to its namesake, titled “Okeanos God of Fertile Rivers and Valleys.”
Catch it if you can: Okeanos riders will be throwing teal crawfish trays.
Route:
START: 11 a.m. at Jefferson Ave. and Magazine St.
Right on Magazine St.
Left on Napoleon Ave.
Right on St. Charles Ave.
Proceed on St. Charles Ave. around Lee Circle.
Right on Canal St.
Right on Tchoupitoulas St.
END: Tchoupitoulas St. and Poydras St.
Route for Krewe of Okeanos (ready.nola.gov)
Krewe of Mid-City
Robert Morris, Uptown Messenger file photo
A small Star Wars TIE Fighter spaceship sneaks onto the “Dat’s Amore” float. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
Like Okeanos, the Krewe of Mid-City began as a neighborhood parade. It rolled through its namesake neighborhood until 2002, when most Mid-City parades were moved Uptown so the city could consolidate security in the aftermath of Sept. 11.
Mid-City’s 17 floats are decorated entirely in bright tinfoil, just as the were when the krewe first parade in 1933. It is the only parade to use this tinfoil technique. The theme for 2020 is “Heart Breakers and Head Bangers.”
Watch for: The signature City Park float pays homage to the krewe’s roots.
Catch it if you can: The krewe throws Elmer’s CheeWees, cheese curds in tinfoil bags.
Route:
START: 11:45 a.m. at Jefferson Ave. and Magazine St.
Right on Magazine St.
Left on Napoleon Ave.
Right on St. Charles Ave.
Proceed on St. Charles Ave. around Lee Circle.
Right on Canal St.
END: Sheraton Hotel, 500 Canal St.
Route for Krewe of Mid-City (ready.nola.gov)
Krewe of Thoth
The Krewe of Thoth rolls on Magazine Street in 2018. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
Thoth has always paraded Uptown but on its own individualistic route — designed designed to pass in front of institutions that care for people who could not otherwise experience a Carnival parade. When Thoth started parading in 1947, it had 50 members on five floats. It now rolls with more than 1,600 riders on 50 floats. The theme this year is “As the World Turns.”
Watch for: Grand Marshal Louis Prima Jr. will perform as he rides.
Catch it if you can: Thoth Sunday T-shirts, Thoth fedoras and Thoth socks.
Route:
START: Noon at Tchoupitoulas St. and State St.
Proceed on Tchoupitoulas St.
Right on Henry Clay Ave.
Right on Magazine St.
Left on Napoleon Ave.
Right on St. Charles Ave.
Proceed on St. Charles Ave. around Lee Circle.
Right on Canal St.
Right on Tchoupitoulas St.
END: Tchoupitoulas St. and Poydras St.
Route for Krewe of Thoth (ready.nola.gov)
Knights of Chaos
The Knights of Chaos mock the NFL in 2019. (Zach Brien, UptownMessenger.com)
This is the 20th anniversary ride for the Knights of Chaos. In 2000, Chaos took over a spot on what was once “Momus Thursday,” but this year it moved to Sunday because of Thursday night’s weather conditions. So the traditional night parade is venturing into daylight for one year.
Chaos still employs Momus floats and presents a satirical parade in the Momus tradition. The krewe combines old-line traditions with contemporary themes. The 16 floats and the theme take jabs at local and national political issues. This year the theme is “Looking Forward to Chaos.”
Watch for: Floats will skewer everyone from the tax assessor to LeBron James.
Catch it if you can: The krewe will have special 20th anniversary throws.
Route:
START: 1 p.m. from Napoleon Ave. and Magazine St.
Proceed on Napoleon Ave.
Right on St. Charles Ave.
Proceed on St. Charles Ave. around Lee Circle.
Left on Canal St.
END: Baronne & Canal St.
Route for Knights of Chaos (ready.nola.gov)
Krewe of Bacchus
Zach Brien, Uptown Messenger file photo
The “Golden Sunset” float rolls down Napoleon during the 2018 Bacchus parade. (Zach Brien, UptownMessenger.com)
Sunday’s sole night parade was founded in 1968, but its roots stretch further. Now a superkrewe, Bacchus is known for its spectacular floats and its celebrity monarchs. Singer-songwriter Robin Alan Thicke will reign as Bacchus LII, leading a parade with the theme “Bacchus’ Wild, Wild West,” portrayed in 21 theme floats. This year, however, the floats will be broken to comply with the city’s temporary ban on tandem floats. The parade also features more than 30 marching bands.
Watch for: The Little League World Champions from River Ridge are riding as special guests.
Catch it if you can: New throws for 2020 include light-up bolo ties and light-up cowboy hats.
Route:
START: 5:15 p.m. from Tchoupitoulas Street and Napoleon Avenue
Right on Napoleon Avenue
Right on St. Charles Avenue
Proceed on St. Charles Avenue around Lee Circle
Right on Canal Street
Right on Tchoupitoulas Street
Left on Julia Street
Right on Convention Center Boulevard
Left on Henderson Street
END: Hall J, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Route for Krewe of Bacchus (ready.nola.gov)
Safety, parking, transportation
As always, take care in large crowds and report suspicious activity to public safety officials. See additional information about Mardi Gras parades at ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras or text MARDIGRAS to 888777 for updates from the city of New Orleans.
Parking is restricted along parade routes two hours before and after parades to be sure parade elements and sanitation crews can access the street. Parking personnel will be monitoring for illegal parking. Call 504-658-8100 for parking enforcement. See additional Mardi Gras parking information.
Depending on the parade route, parking may be prohibited on either side of the following streets two hours before and after parades. Follow all posted signs.
• Tchoupitoulas from Jackson to Nashville
• Napoleon from Tchoupitoulas to South Claiborne
• St. Charles from Napoleon to Canal
• Tchoupitoulas from Poydras to Calliope
Before parades begin or when crowd size warrants, the New Orleans Police Department will close the route to vehicles. Plan ahead and avoid streets that intersect with parades. Additional intermittent closures will be necessary as parade elements travel across the city. Track the lead and tail of parades as they roll with the parade tracker at routewise.nola.gov.
All RTA service alerts, updates, and detours can also be accessed by downloading the RTA’s GoMobile app. To learn more, visit www.norta.com or call Ride Line at 504-248-3900.
