[Courtesy of the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians]

A Washington Mardi Gras Deep Dive with King Rico Alvendia

16:00 January 17, 2025
By: Kevin Credo

"Duty, Honor, Louisiana"

Carnival has arrived, but the typical joy and celebrations linger over a Crescent City grappling with tragedy in the wake of the New Year's Day violence on Bourbon Street.

In a moment where the good cheer brought on by New Year's, Mardi Gras, the Sugar Bowl, and the Super Bowl clash with the national tragedies of Bourbon Street and the Los Angeles wildfires, logistics and safety are pretty understandably at the forefront of a lot of people's minds. At the same time, one of Louisiana's most cherished out-of-state traditions, the Washington Mardi Gras, is honoring first responders with pride of place at its celebrations starting on January 25.

For over 75 years, the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians has been livening up America's punctual capitol city with the spirit of New Orleans' internationally famed celebration. While often referred to in New Orleans simply as the "Washington Mardi Gras" for its location and unavoidable political aura, the formal name is much more common in D.C. itself with "krewe" being an endearing callback to home amongst native Louisianians, as well as an exotic inculturation among the eastern seaboard's congressional wonk. Being a venerable, if admittedly a bit detached expression of New Orleans' Mardi Gras in a very different cultural region of the United States, the visibility and awareness of the event has risen in recent years, getting a big Saints-fans boost with Drew Brees' reign as 2024's king.

2025's king, New Orleans attorney Rico Alvendia, is using his reign to celebrate first responders and military around Louisiana, America, and the world.

"Our theme for this year, 'Duty, Honor, Louisiana,' is something that we've been planning for really the past year," Mr. Rico shared in conversation while preparing for next week's visit to Washington. "This was something that was really personal to me, and I'm honored that the Louisianians' organizers, like 2025 chair, 2nd District Representative Troy Carter, were completely onboard for. It's a humbling honor to really be given the role of king, and, of course, there's so much going on there that needs to be prepped for. On a more personal end, my wife Kristen and my son Noah have been so helpful to me through those preparations."

[Rico Alvendia/AKD Law]

Of course, being on the heels of both the New Year's Day violence at the Louisiana level and the Los Angeles wildfires on the national level, the theming takes on an extra timeliness that isn't lost on the Louisianians. "We're actually going to be inviting NOPD and New Orleans first responders to come celebrate in Washington, as both thanks for their selflessness and a commendation for military and first responders everywhere. This was something that Governor Landry and Representative Carter were both on the same page for, and it's amazing to see the way that the Washington Mardi Gras has such a unifying element across Louisiana's community in Washington. The krewe really bridges different regions of the state, different political policies, really a coming together of these different groups and a chance to talk and celebrate across all these factors. It takes the diversity of Louisiana and really celebrates and presents that on a national stage in Washington."

And that diversity is present in the representation of different cultures and festivals present at the event. Representatives from each Louisiana congressional district—such diverse locales as Ponchatoula, Shreveport, LaPlace, and many more—make processional appearances, with New Orleans being represented by Louise McGhee graduate Kendall Williams as ceremonial queen 2025. With Mr. Rico serving as captain of New Orleans' Legion of Mars parade, elements from New Orleans' Mardi Gras are going to be well-represented. The iconic Mars "Mardi Grog"—that bittersweet cocktail brewed by the Legion parade in celebration of veterans—is going to be recreated and passed out at the Louisianians' Captain's Dinner, along with other special first-time events.

"We're bringing that Louisiana tradition that's a unique honor for veterans. Another thing we've got planned is a collaboration with Walter Reed Medical Center—going to the medical center and showing our gratitude for those who serve. The sense of celebration we have is going to be framed around the solemnity of the events that have brought international attention to first responders in recent weeks. We have the celebrations, but it ultimately goes back to a deep honor and reverence, and we're important about keeping that sense of honor."

Wounded Warriors will be getting personal visits from the Louisianians' court, as well as invitations to attend a USO concert at Anthem Theater as special guests of the king and krewe. Commemorating the 2025 edition of the event is a poster from Terrance Osborne, whose many years of designs for the Jazz and Heritage Festival have immortalized the culture and spirit of Louisiana to a worldwide audience.

[Terrence Osborne/Mystick Krewe of Louisianians]

The Grand Ball of the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians takes place at the Washington D.C. Hilton Hotel on Saturday, January 25.

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