V endors lined the streets while everyone from babies in strollers to college kids with 6-packs awaited the start of Baton Rouge’s Mardi Gras parades.
Last weekend’s Krewe of Artemis, Krewe Mystique de la Capitale and Krewe of Orion parades marked the beginning of Mardi Gras celebrations in Baton Rouge.
While New Orleans is well known for its Mardi Gras traditions, the Baton Rouge parades have been a part of the city for 30 years now. The city’s oldest parade is Krewe Mystique de la Capitale.
Rain and freezing temperatures did not scare residents from coming out to take part in the tradition that many said is important after Hurricane Katrina this past year.
Susan Losby, biological engineering junior,
 
 
attended the Krewe of Orion parade Saturday night. Losby said it was her first Baton Rouge parade, although she did go to Mardi Gras 2005 in New Orleans.
“It’s important Baton Rouge do this because it helps keep everyone in good spirits,” Losby said.
The festivities will continue this weekend with the Krewe of Southdowns parade and the famous Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade.
The theme for the Southdowns parade is “Going Back to New Orleans,” while the organizers of the Spanish Town parade opted for the slightly less politically correct theme of “FEMAture Evacuation.”
Bruce Childers, who has been helping with the planning of the parade for 18 years, said the committee begins organizing the parade in October.
Childers said he is not worried about the parade’s theme being politically incorrect.
“We aren’t trying to offend people,” Childers said. “It really is just a play on words and something we thought would be funny.”
Childers said he expects the turnout to be a lot larger than in previous years.
“I think we are going to get a lot more people here this year,” he said. “The turnout generally runs a gamut, and you will see a lot of people ranging from young families to elderly people.”
Despite any negative feelings toward the Spanish Town parade theme, Childers said this weekend’s parade will be a good escape for the people of Baton Rouge.
“Given what we have been through this year with Katrina, we all need a little down time,” Childers said.
V endors lined the streets while everyone from babies in strollers to college kids with 6-packs awaited the start of Baton Rouge’s Mardi Gras parades.
Last weekend’s Krewe of Artemis, Krewe Mystique de la Capitale and Krewe of Orion parades marked the beginning of Mardi Gras celebrations in Baton Rouge.
While New Orleans is well known for its Mardi Gras traditions, the Baton Rouge parades have been a part of the city for 30 years now. The city’s oldest parade is Krewe Mystique de la Capitale.
Rain and freezing temperatures did not scare residents from coming out to take part in the tradition that many said is important after Hurricane Katrina this past year.
Susan Losby, biological engineering junior,
 
 
attended the Krewe of Orion parade Saturday night. Losby said it was her first Baton Rouge parade, although she did go to Mardi Gras 2005 in New Orleans.
“It’s important Baton Rouge do this because it helps keep everyone in good spirits,” Losby said.
The festivities will continue this weekend with the Krewe of Southdowns parade and the famous Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade.
The theme for the Southdowns parade is “Going Back to New Orleans,” while the organizers of the Spanish Town parade opted for the slightly less politically correct theme of “FEMAture Evacuation.”
Bruce Childers, who has been helping with the planning of the parade for 18 years, said the committee begins organizing the parade in October.
Childers said he is not worried about the parade’s theme being politically incorrect.
“We aren’t trying to offend people,” Childers said. “It really is just a play on words and something we thought would be funny.”
Childers said he expects the turnout to be a lot larger than in previous years.
“I think we are going to get a lot more people here this year,” he said. “The turnout generally runs a gamut, and you will see a lot of people ranging from young families to elderly people.”
Despite any negative feelings toward the Spanish Town parade theme, Childers said this weekend’s parade will be a good escape for the people of Baton Rouge.
“Given what we have been through this year with Katrina, we all need a little down time,” Childers said.
 
Contact Kelly Caulk
at [email protected]