2022 LSU Gumbo - Book - Page 97
Complete with school marching bands, dance
krewes and adorably-decorated floats, the Mid City
Gras Parade was a perfect way to celebrate some
family-friendly Mardi Gras fun.
The parade took place Feb. 20 on North Boulevard,
and while it may have been a short, low-key affair, the
Baton Rouge community couldn’t have been happier
to be out and celebrating Mardi Gras with their friends
and families.
“It just feels great to see the community and see
people who I don’t get to see very often,” Baton Rouge
resident Jessica Stroope said.
The parade hosted performances by The Hillsdale
High Steppers, The Flamingeauxs, A Body of Royalty,
The Krewe of Circue Louisiana, The Baton Rouge
Beignyays and many other great troupes. These dance
krewes brought the sass to the festivities, delivering
on-point choreography with impeccably decadent
costumes topped off with wigs, glitter and Euphoriaesque eyeshadow looks.
An “Enchantment Under the Sea” float was featured
in the parade, boasting a great deal of tinsel and some
camp-looking faux prom outfits. While this float was
a knock-out, the biggest standout out of the whole
parade was an Amazon-themed float that showcased a
large replica of Jeff Bezos’ peculiar-shaped rocket ship.
The krewe even put together a throne made out of old
amazon packages to top off the whole ordeal.
The parade was an assemblage of fun-loving
oddballs on stilts, older folks sitting out in lawn
chairs, worried moms trying to keep their babies from
stepping into the middle of the procession and kids
screaming at the top of their lungs begging for some
beads. People were dancing, spinning, rollerblading,
stepping, singing, playing instruments, doing
acrobatics and chucking beads left and right.
After being unable to celebrate this momentous
holiday for nearly two years, the Baton Rouge
community was radiating energy of almost tangible
joy and bliss as they embraced their loved ones and
greeted old friends. Louisiana without Mardi Gras just
wasn’t the same, and residents took a sign of relief to
have Carnival back.
Once the parade came to an end and families and
friends started leaving together, a smile was plastered
on every person’s face.
Photos by Matthew Perschall
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