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History of Mardi Gras in Louisiana The Mardi Gras au Coeur de la Louisianne (Mardi Gras in the Heart of Central Louisiana) spirit has really taken hold of Central Louisiana since the first Alexandria parade was held on Sunday, February 13, 1994. Alexandria's Mardi Gras has grown that year from a total of ten floats and participation of four Mardi Gras Krewes, to presently twenty-two floats and 14 Mardi Gras Krewes. The Sunday afternoon Krewe parade attendance is now estimated at 100,000, and the Saturday morning Children's parade attendance in Downtown Alexandria is estimated at 25,000. The Alexandria Mardi Gras Association was begun in 1994 by a consortium of local business leaders, the Alexandria-Pineville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mardi Gras enthusiasts, and the Krewes existing at that time. In the summer of 1993, the Conventions & Visitors Bureau Board consisting of Anne Fitzgerald, Mike Tudor, Fred Rosenfeld, Tom Hardin, Mike Hadnot, Bart Schmolke, Ann Johnson, and Executive Director Emory Oney, voted to provide seed money to kick off a parade in 1994. The Conventions & Visitors Bureau contracted with Frances Methvin as coordinator and Mike Tudor as committee chair to put the inaugural parade together. The parade was a natural outgrowth of Mardi Gras interest prompted by the foundation of the mens Krewe of Parlangua in the Spring and Summer of 1986 with its first ball on February 21, 1987. Open to men and women, the Krewe of Boogaloo was founded by Bob Dvorak and Greg Gormanous, and presently captained by Bart Schmolke. The first krewe ball was in 1988. The womens Krewe of Twelfth Night was formed in February of 1990 with the first krewe ball held in January of 1991, led by its President, Betty Ingrish. The womens Krewe of Alexandra headed by its Captain, Shirley Boudoin, was formed in 1990 by Janet Huffman, Shirley Boudoin, and Brenda Ray, with the first krewe ball held on February 15, 1991. The womens Krewe of Medea was organized through the efforts of its Captain, Dawn D'Angelo and President, Christie Phillips, in 1993 and held its first krewe ball in January of 1994. The Krewe of Theaur was organized in the fall of 1994 with its first krewe ball in January of 1995 with Jerome Scott as first captain and Lou Craig as first queen. The Mystique Krewe of Rapides captained by Kay Barnidge and Pat Elliott was established in 1996 with its inaugural krewe ball on January 18, 1997, and the mens Krewe of Sheiks led by Tom Phillips was organized in 1993, with its first krewe party in 1994. The Krewe of Tezcatlapoca organized and led by its Captain, Fred Eloi, was established in the winter of 1995, and the first krewe party was held in 1996. This krewe, as some others, is primarily a parading krewe. The Egyptian Krewe of Ra was formed in September of 1997 and its first krewe ball was held on January 10, 1998 led by President Karen Lawson and Captain Elaine Jones. As first captain, Marilyn Deville led the organization in March of 1998 of the Krewe of Atlantis with its first ball January 23, 1999. A womens Krewe of Mariposa has been organized with its first ball scheduled in 2001. The Krewe of Gratia was formed in 1999 and the Krewe of Mercury was organized in 2000 by Lance Harris with Paul Dunstance as the first king. Krewe of Camelot was organized in 2001. Through the leadership of President Pat Elliott, a Childrens Parade was organized for downtown Alexandria in 1997. Like the Sunday krewe parade, it has a Grand Marshal and an international feature with special guest float captain. Through the AMGA's strategic management, Mardi Gras in the Heart of Louisiana has continued to expand and offer families the pomp and splendor of this Louisiana tradition in the safety of small-time city parades. This year, in addition to the parade there will be a host of events including "A Taste of Mardi Gras" (sponsored by the LA Restaurant Assoc.), a childrens parade in downtown Alexandria, and a post-parade party at the Alexandria Riverfront Center following the Krewe Parade. The Alexandria Mardi Gras Association's parades are truly unique with as many ingredients as a good gumbo. The good times roll downtown and midtown Alexandria as people from all over Central Louisiana take part in the revelry. The Mardi Gras Parades come alive with the music of high school bands and masked riders from AMGA krewes. This year's parades will cost in excess of $100,000 to stage. More than 85% of this cost is paid for by the parade participants. Collectively, the Association consists of over 2,000 local people. Krewes that are members of the Association have an opportunity to take part each year in the Association parade. Every year the Association chooses a person of distinction either from the central Louisiana area, or from the state to serve as Grand Marshal of the Sunday Krewe Parade. Previous Grand Marshals have included former Dallas Cowboy kicker and Super Bowl winner Chris Boniol, blues musician Grady Gaines, former Miss USA Ali Landry, Natchitoches native and country music recording artist Trini Triggs, CNBC London anchor, Sydnie Kohara, an Alexandria native, Actor Scott Paetty, and this past year Mr. Food, Art Ginsburg, as well as local personality, Martha Angelo. The 2002 parades will be held on Saturday, February 9 at 10:00 AM in downtown Alexandria, and Sunday, February 10 at 2:00 PM in midtown Alexandria. |
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The Alexandria Mardi
Gras Association | Calendar of Events
| Mardi Gras de
la Louisiane E-mail: chursey797@aol.com For more information on
2002 Mardi Gras in Central Louisiana, |
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