On Saturday, February 8th at 6:30 pm, the infamous Mardi Gras Krewe will march for its 34th year. The highly anticipated Krewe du Vieux parade will begin on the corner of Royal & Homer Plessy Way. It will make its way through the French Quarter and the Marigny before ending in the same spot it began.
Founded in 1987 as a colorful carnival parade, Krewe du Vieux is most well-known and widely appreciated for its raunchy, satirical themes and for featuring some of the city's best local brass bands. Krewe du Vieux features carefully crafted mule-drawn floats, intermixed with members on foot. Every year, the parade Krewe marches on the Third Saturday before Fat Tuesday.
Krewe du Vieux consists of seventeen Sub-Krewes: Rue du Bourbon, Comatose, Krewe de Craps, C.R.U.D.E., Drips and Discharges, Inane, K.A.O.S., Krewe of Space Age Love, L.E.W.D, Mama Roux, Krewe du Mishigas, Mondu, Mystic Krewe of Pan, Seeds of Decline, Mystic Krewe of Sperms, T.O.K.I.N., and Underwear. Each of the 17 sub-krewes presents their own interpretation of the year's theme. Parade themes are typically inspired by political satire, sexuality, and local culture; the theme of the 2020 parade is "Erection 2020." The Queen of this year's Krewe du Vieux will be BB St. Roman, who manages the New Orleans Police Department's Homeless Assistance unit.
Traditionally, the Krewe du Vieux parade is preceded by a Captain's dinner and followed by a massive celebration called Krewe du Vieux-Doo.