As the peak of Carnival season heats up the cool New Orleans nights, one of Mardi Gras's most iconic krewes convened in full-force to celebrate a major anniversary. As night fell upon the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, the Krewe of Thoth held its annual formal Ball, celebrating 75 years of the Uptown-based parading organization. Named after the Egyptian god of writing and science, Thoth's traditional route is designed to ride past many historic health facilities, bringing Mardi Gras to patients and earning itself the affectionate title, the "Krewe of Shut-ins." After security shortages and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic cut parade route shorts across the 2022 season (and Covid-19 eliminating parades entirely in 2021), the restoration of Thoth's traditional route had perfect timing with the major anniversary. The 75th anniversary, dubbed the "Diamond Jubilee," allowed for a lookback at previous themes and milestones in the Krewe's history. A theme of themes, for a multigenerational celebration of one of New Orleans's oldest and largest krewes.
The evening's event began with the krewe's traditional Bal-Masque, an event that balances the ornateness of traditional New Orleans Carnival with the elaborate costuming and presentation. The 2023 role of Queen of Thoth was granted to Haley Alyssa Pettingill, as accompanied by a presentation of the Maids and Jr. Maids, Officers, and previous royalty. The general black-tie attendees cheered on each procession, and their gratitude was often reciprocated by the bead-throwing of the masked riders, costumed in colorful garb designed specifically for the Bal-Masque and throwing several signature beads and doubloons for the other attendees, many of whom ride themselves. A march with throws; a parade for the parade.
Once the Bal-Masque ceremony had completed, the attendees filtered out for the afterparty, a party bash occurring into the smallest hours of the morning. Music from different live bands echoed through each of the afterparty's five different seating areas. Horn and percussion-based covers wafted among the custom-printed cups and can-warmers in the central seating area, whereas the East wing was alight with rock-centric covers from multiple cover bands, the Union Jack flag draped over the stage banner and the lead singer dressed in a Cobra Kai karate gi. The catering was steeped in New Orleans tradition; etouffee and Abita root beer-glazed ham were topped off with a desert of king-cake bread pudding. The event was in fact so extravagant that the interior of the Pontchartrain Center wasn't enough, and an extra tent area was specifically organized to house more members and expand the festivities, complete with its own musical stand (and, naturally, its own standing-bar).
There is a story described in the writings of Plato in which the god Thoth presents the invention of writing to the king of Egypt. While the god's gift is designed to be an antidote to the fleeting nature of memory and recording, there is a caveat that just writing cannot replace actual lived experience. If this year's Bal-Masque is anything to go by, the Krewe has done a fine job of balancing the record of its long history with an enjoyment and appreciation for the present. Getting its 75th year down very soon, the Krewe is expressly ready for 75 more.
The Krewe of Thoth annual Bal-Masque occurred on February 4, 2023. The Krewe of Thoth parade is set to roll through uptown New Orleans in the morning and afternoon of February 19, 2023.
