All Hail Thoth
As evening settled along the Kenner lakefront, the
Pontchartrain Center was lit with green, purple, and gold. One of the largest
Mardi Gras krewes, Thoth, held its annual bal masqué as a preparation for its
February ride and a celebration of 76 years on the New Orleans Mardi Gras
scene.
As a master work of balancing both its impressive
"super-krewe" status of over 2400 riders with its flare for a stately and
intimate Mardi Gras feel, Thoth has risen to be one of the most popular parades
of the Mardi Gras season, serving as New Orleans' largest daytime parade.
Proudly self-described as the "Krewe of Shut-Ins," Thoth's parade route has
historically centered around the ideal of bringing the festivities of Mardi
Gras to healthcare and assisted-living communities that wouldn't otherwise have
direct access to a major parade route, a tradition it still honors with its
intersection of New Orleans' world-class Children's Hospital.
The 2024 parade theme, "Thoth Goes Festin'," paid
unique homage to both local and international festivals. Beginning with the
most ancient festivals in ancient Egypt, Rome, and Mesoamerica, the theming
continued all the way through modern presentations of New Orleans staples like
Jazz Fest, Voodoo, crawfish and oyster festivals, and more, all set to
presentations of each maid and accompanying band music from the Carnival big
band.
The presentations culminated in an elaborate
presentation of the full court, including Al "Lil' Fats" Jackson serving as
Grand Marshall, Pietro Montagnino as King, and Sarah Homburg reigning as Queen
Thoth LXXVI. The Maids representing the various aspects of the theme included
Mary Grace Collins, Eleanor Mae, Lucy Thomann Degan, Caroline Macaluso, Catie
Maheu, Abigail Meyaski, Mia Montagnino, Isabella St. Phillip, Abigail
Thiaville, and Grace Wallace.
With the annual bal masqué giving way to its lively
afterparty, guests had a chance to take photos at a dedicated backdrop
accentuated with the logo for the yearly theme, the ibis-headed god Thoth in a
pastiche second-line worthy of the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Entertainment for
the afterparty was provided by several local mainstays, including The Mixed
Nuts, Molly Ringwalds, and Rouge Crew.
Meanwhile, back in a curtained-off section of the main
Pontchartrain Center lobby, the king of the parade was more than happy to offer
his celebratory take on the theming and the year ahead. As the Yat Pack band
played several New Orleans jazz standards, King Pietro "Peter" Montagnino was
happy to recount that his 2024 reign has come after 18 years of riding with the
Krewe of Thoth and that his selection as the yearly monarch came about as a
result of good timing and recognition of his tenure with the parade. "Everyone
who's interested, of course," King Montagnino joked. "Thoth is the best parade
in Mardi Gras." With preparations underway for the roll very soon, it was easy
to feel that sentiment into the earliest hours of the morning.
The Krewe of Thoth's 2024 parade is scheduled for
Sunday, February 11, beginning its ride at 12 p.m. The parade begins at
Tchoupitoulas and State streets, turning down Henry Clay Avenue at Children's
Hospital. The krewe then turns right on Magazine Street past the St. Clare Monastery,
riding until Napoleon Street, which it takes north to St. Charles Avenue, all
the way down to Canal Street before a final three blocks back down
Tchoupitoulas. For more information, see the Krewe
of Thoth's Facebook page.
