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Mardi Gras 2015

 Mardi Gras in Jefferson

 

Mardi Gras is called "the biggest party on Earth" and Jefferson Parish is inviting you to that party! Spanning over two sides of the Mississippi River, the East Bank and the West Bank, Jefferson Parish offers Mardi Gras fun wherever you may be located.  Come and experience the sites, the sounds, the food, the music, the parades and of course, the BEADS in this family friendly celebration of Mardi Gras.  Starting on Friday, February 6, 2015 and going through until Fat Tuesday, February 17, 2015 you can experience parades, each with their own theme and "krewe".  And, you don't want to miss Family Gras February 6-8; the music, food, art, and costuming family festival that has both locals and visitors buzzing. So come on down and become an official local when you celebrate Mardi Gras with thousands of your closest friends in Jefferson Parish.

The History

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Mardi Gras was brought to Louisiana by early French settlers. The first record of the holiday being marked in Louisiana is 1699. The starting date of festivities in New Orleans is unknown, but an account from 1743 notes that the custom of Carnival balls was already established by that date. Processions and masking in the streets on Mardi Gras Day took place, were sometimes prohibited by law, and were quickly renewed whenever such restrictions were lifted or enforcement waned , in 1833 Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville a rich plantation owner raised money to fund an official Mardi Gras celebration.

On Mardi Gras of 1857 the Mystic Krewe of Comus held its first parade. Comus is the oldest continuously active Mardi Gras organization and started a number of continuing traditions (for example, the use of floats in parades) and is considered the first Carnival krewe in the modern sense.

War, economic, political, and weather conditions sometimes led to cancellation of some or all major parades, especially during the American Civil War and World War II, but celebration of Carnival has always been observed in the city.

Today, many krewes operate under a business structure; membership is basically open to anyone who pays dues to have a place on a parade float. In contrast, the old-line krewes use the structure of the parades and balls to extend the traditions of the debutante season in their social circles.

The Colors of Mardi Gras

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The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These are said to have been chosen in 1892, when the Rex Parade theme "Symbolism of Colors" gave the colors their meanings.

Purple - Justice      Green - Faith      Gold - Power
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PRE-CARNIVAL PARADE:



KREWE OF LITTLE RASCALS
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2015
12:00 P.M.
EASTBABK ROUTE-SEE RIGHT PANELFOR ROUTE

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CARNIVAL SEASON PARADE SCHEDULE
 
KREWE OF EXCALIBUR
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015
7:00 P.M.
METAIRIE 'EASTBANK ROUTE'



KREWE OF ATHENA
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015
7:30 P.M. (FOLLOWS EXCALIBUR)



KREWE OF CAESAR
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2015
6:00 P.M.
METAIRIE 'EASTBANK ROUTE'



KREWE OF ADONIS
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2015
11:45 A.M.
'WESTBANK ROUTE'



KREWE OF CENTURIONS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
7:00 P.M.
METAIRIE 'EASTBANK ROUTE'



KREWE OF ISIS
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2015
6:30 P.M.
'METAIRIE EASTBANK ROUTE'



KREWE OF NAPOLEON
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2015
5:00 P.M.
METAIRIE 'EASTBANK ROUTE'


KREWE OF ARGUS
FAT TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015
10:00 A.M.
METAIRIE 'EASTBANK MARDI GRAS DAY ROUTE '


KREWE OF ELKS TRUCKS
FOLLOWS KREWE OF ARGUS



KREWE OF JEFFERSON TRUCKS
FOLLOWS KREWE OF ELKS 



KREWE OF GRELA
FAT TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015
10:00 A.M.
WESTBANK ROUTE* See map in green

  Parade route & schedule notice:
Above dates, times and routes are subject to change without notice

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Exciting contest!  Battle of the Bands at Metairie Carnival 2015! A tradition in the making our Rhythm on the Route. Rhythm on the Route will award prize money and bragging rights to the top three bands of each Metairie parade.

First Place: $3,000

Second Place: $2,000

Third Place: $1,000

Come out and enjoy this great opportunity to see (and hear) your favorite marching band perform in Jefferson Parish parades during our fun and festive carnival season.

• PARADE KREWES PARTICIPATING IN THE   THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS:
        
         Excalibur                    Athena
  
             
            Caesar                     Centurions
  
   

  

  
                                    Isis
  
      
         Napoleon          Argus- Mardi Gras Day

 

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The Jefferson Parish Parade Routes

Eastbank (Metairie) Route #1

Little Rascals Parade Route:

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Eastbank (Metairie) Route #2

  Caesar, Centurions, Athena
 Excalibur, Atlas, Isis, Napoleon

Eastbank (Metairie)
"MARDI GRAS DAY" Route #3

Krewe of Argus, Elks Trucks & Jefferson Trucks (Trucks immediately follow Argus)

Westbank Route:

Krewe of Adonis




Krewe of Grela - Mardi Gras Day





City of Gretna hosts 2015 Mardi Gras
Costume Contest!  Click for Registration Form.