Join an Epic Stroll
While images of massive floats covered in flowers, murals, and monsters and filled with double decks of masked riders tossing fistfuls of beads is often what comes to mind when we talk about Mardi Gras, there is a far more human-sized way of celebrating—walking parades.
Though not as famous in lore, there's a walking parade almost every day of Carnival in 2024. They even bookend the celebrations on the first and the last days. Here's your guide to six NOLA walking parades in February:
Krewe of Cork
Friday, February 2, thekreweofcork.com
This parade started as a wine club, as many great ideas do. The 400+ members are known as "Corkians." Check-in consists of getting Bloody Marys at the Court of Two Sisters and followed by a champagne toast, so everyone is in an excellent mood while marching. Their motto is the Euripides quote, "Without wine, there is no joy." In that case, this parade has the most joy.
Mystic Krewe of Barkus
Sunday, February 4, kreweofbarkus.org
"Must love dogs" is chief among the rules here. The Mystic Krewe of Barkus is exactly what you would hope for—an all-dog krewe with crowned, canine royalty and many adoptables among the pack. Some of the humans are in costumes, but the fancy ones are reserved for the pups. Founded by a non-profit that has benefited local animal organizations for the past 30+ years, you can feel good about every part of this parade.
Krewe of Bosom Buddies
Friday, February 9, bosombuddiesnola.org
Woman-centric, this group of "bosom buddies and breast friends" is a colorful krewe that bounces through the Vieux Carré. Around for a whole decade, they pick punny themes like "Crescent Titty" back during New Orleans' tricentennial. They are colorful and inclusive, and their goal is to make people happy. If you're really lucky, you might catch a bedazzled bra.
Krewe of Lafcadio
Saturday, February 10, keweoflafcadio.org
Lafcadio Hearn was a famous journalist in the late 1800s who wrote a lot about New Orleans culture. He penned not only the first Creole cookbook, but many articles and political cartoons. The parade starts at Antoine's Restaurant, and this krewe's king is always a chef, as its focus is on satire, the city, and the culinary arts. You can expect a sea of chef hats, lobster pots, pralines, and mixing spoon throws.
Red Beans, Dead Beans, & the Krewe of Feijão + Green Beans
Monday, February 12, kreweofredbeans.org/parades
The Krewe of Red Beans got famous for their philanthropic campaigns during the COVID pandemic. The majority of Mardi Gras krewes raised funds and volunteered around the city but Beans went above and beyond with "Feed the Frontline" and "Feed the Second Line." They raised over two million dollars and created job opportunities for local artists and unemployed gig workers while seriously helping those who were the most at risk and stretched thin during the pandemic. For those reasons alone, it's worth marching with the beans but also the costumes are one of a kind and hand made of many, many multi-colored beans. The artistry of the outfits is extraordinary, while the materials are extremely affordable and low-waste.
The Societé de Sainte Anne
Tuesday, February 13
Also known as the Saint Ann Walking Parade, this is the day where people show off what they've been working on all year. If you wake up early enough to catch the North Side Skull and Bone Gang and the Mardi Gras Indians, this becomes a very full day on your feet. Hoops, wigs, ribbons, glitter, flowers, and fabric color the whole Quarter and surrounding neighborhoods. This was how Mardi Gras started—handmade and on foot. This is the most official and most unofficial of parades. If you're there, you're in it.
