"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."

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.

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