Baton Rouge’s Mardi Gras season kicked off Saturday with the Krewe of Jupiter and Juno parade downtown.
A family-oriented parade, people hollered instead of screamed and nobody flashed for beads. Alcohol, as well, was mostly absent, save the occasional old man dancing by himself on the side.
Tess Baudry, an architecture junior, said she was looking forward to her first Mardi Gras as a 21-year-old.
“It’s a good time for me to catch up with my friend Jose Cuervo and my boyfriend Jack Daniels,” Baudry said.
Cody Drago, also an architecture junior, said the difference between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is the smell.
“It smells better here,” Drago said. “But you still get a ticket for public urination.”
Baudry said another difference between the two cities’ carnival celebrations is the attire.
“People are wearing more clothes [in Baton Rouge],” Baudry said.
High school marching bands participated, along with dance teams and radio stations.
The Mad Hatter from “Alice in Wonderland” performed a solo act in the parade, waving, smiling and occassionally running over to the children in the crowd.
The 501st Legion, Vader’s Fist, also walked in the parade. Comprised of mostly adults, they donned “Star Wars” outfits from stormtroopers to Darth Vader to Princess Leia in her slave costume.
The next parade will be the Krewe of Artemis on Friday, Feb. 1, with more parades throughout the weekend.
— Friday, Feb. 1: Krewe of Artemis, 7 p.m.
— Saturday, Feb. 2: Krewe of Mystique, 2 p.m.
— Saturday, Feb. 2: Krewe or Orion, 6:30 p.m.
— Friday, Feb. 8: Krewe of Southdowns, 7 p.m.
— Saturday, Feb. 9: Krewe of Spanish Town, noon
— Tuesday, Feb. 12: Beauregard Town Walking Parade, noon
“It’s a good time for me to catch up with my friend Jose Cuervo and my boyfriend Jack Daniels.”
