Parades draw large crowds in New Orleans

Krewe parades are drawing very large crowds in New Orleans as a precusor to Mardi Gras, even with questionable weather and many residents still missing from the city. Sunday hosted several parades including the Krewe of Thothm Krewe of Okeanos, Krewe of Mid-City, and culminating with the Krewe of Bacchus, one of the most-anticipated events of Carnival. James Gandolfini, who plays Tony Soprano on The Sopranos, led the Bacchus parade. The Krewe of Bacchus parade was founded in 1968 by a handful of New Orleans business leaders whose dream was to revitalize Carnival. On Sunday, February 16, 1969, the Krewe of Bacchus staged its first Mardi Gras parade. The theme was "The Best Things In Life", and the procession was led by celebrity king Danny Kaye. The 250 member, 15 float entourage took to the streets of New Orleans showering thousands of spectators with over a million strings of beads and 300,000 doubloons. The new parade was a smashing success.

The Krewe of Bacchus had left a lasting mark on the City of New Orleans and had proven to be the boost that the Carnival season so desperately needed.

Now, with more than 1,000 members and 31 animated super-floats, the Krewe of Bacchus is revered as one of the most spectacular Krewes in Carnival history.

There are over 20 Krewes, private clubs, that appear on parades that march on weekends during the season. The first parade was on January 6th, then the following weekend of the 21st and 22nd of January. In February, parades were held on the 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th, and then starting February 14th, daily until Mardi Gras day on the 20th. The earlier parades are small, but the week preceding Mardi Gras are large with several Krewes and marching bands appearing in each.

If you have never been to New Orleans during the Mardi Gras season, it is a trip not to be missed. Yes, parts are raunchy and you're definately going to see people in the streets baring a lot more flesh than you're probably used to, but the parades and the music are so joyous and lively. It is honestly one of those experiences you just cannot pass up.

The first time I went to Mardi Gras I was in college and was unprepared for the public drinking. As a kid that didn't drink much alcohol, I was definately in the minority. But I collected hundreds of pop beads that were thrown from the floats, and many gold doubloons as well. I still have a few of those pop beads, and I graduated from college about ~~mumble mumble~~ 30 plus years ago!

Today the beads are different, and we've got quite a few of those as well, which my daughter has hoarded. But the parades are just as fun, and the crowds just as raucous.

Mardi Gras is considered a key to reviving New Orleans' tourism business following the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. The signs of the devastating storm are still obvious in swaths of the city but are largely unnoticeable to those who stay in the French Quarter and central business district, which didn't get much damage during the storm.

Before the storm, about a million visitors came here over the four days capped by Fat Tuesday. Officials expect about 700,000 this year -- but as of Sunday, did not have any estimates.

Police spokesman Sgt. Joe Narcisse said there have been some instances of people drunk in public or disturbing the peace, but Carnival so far has been relatively uneventful. Most of the visitors vow to party until Lent begins, when the parades end and the city winds down until next year.

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Parades draw large crowds in New Orleans

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