Krewe of Muses' signature "Shoo" float, size 875, rolls up Tchoupitoulas to top of the parade route in New Orleans during carnival 2012.
The King of the Phunny Phorty Phellows serves King Cake to members during their streetcar ride to kick off Carnival season 2015. Carnival starts on the Twelth Night of Christmas and ends on Mardi Gras Day or Fat Tuesday. The following day is Ash Wednesday and marks the start of Lent.
King Cake: Bryan Harrell puts the final touches on king cakes at Dong Phuong Bakery at 2:30 a.m. in New Orleans East on January 26, 2017. King Cakes are a carnival tradition originating from a bread-like cinnamon cake used to celebrate Epiphany and the end of winter. Today most local bakeries in New Orleans have their own twist, and in 2017 the Vietnamese bakery Dong Phuong was the people’s choice for best King Cake.
Royal Artists: Royal Artists work on props for different carnival krewes on November 2, 2015. The floats must be ready in time for the January 2016 season, and Mardi Gras Day on February 9, 2016. Royal Artists use traditional papier mache to produce floats for older Krewes like Proteus, founded in 1882, and Knights of Chaos, a spin off of Momus founded in 1872.
Monogram Hunters: Monogram Hunters Big Chief Jeremy "Blaze" Stevenson and his father Big Chief Tyrone "Pie" Stevenson work on Blaze's suit for Mardi Gras Day 2016. Since 2015, Jeremy has taken on the shared title of Big Chief, while Pie has taken a two year break from masking. The costly tradition of making a new suit every year can limit yearly participation for some.
Muses outside their pre-parade party during the 2012 Carnival season. Started in 2000 the all female krewe is well known for their satire, decorated shoe throw, and zany walking krewes.
Pam Cooper shows Andrea Legrand a roach throw while they get ready for their Muses parade during Carnival 2015. Founded in 2001, the all-female krewe is now one of the staples of carnival New Orleans.
A push cart float for Krewe Delusion sits on the street the day before their 2015 Carnival parade.
Mardi Gras Machine: Pixie, a mechanical arm built by KUKA Robotics, cuts out the styrofoam body of Krewe of Tucks mascot Friar Tuck for the front a float at Mardi Gras World on January 26, 2017. The roughly million dollar robot started cutting just after Mardi Gras on Ash Wednesday 2016.
Marcus Bronson works on the Butterfly King's wand at the Rex float den a few weeks before Fat Tuesday 2015. Rex was founded in 1872 and is king of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The parade rolls on Fat Tuesday every year.
Krewe of Freret King Bobby Hjortsberg getting things in order for the start of the parade during Carnivall 2015.
Krewe of Freret members shortly before the parade rolls during Carnival 2015.
Cowboys and Indians: Creole Wild West Spy Boy Horace Anderson sews a patch for his new suit, while watching the Cowboys in the playoffs on January 15, 2017. Anderson, a lifelong Cowboys fan, is the fourth generation in his family to participate in the Mardi Gras Indian tradition.
Push Mow Parade on January 30, 2016.
Krewe Of Mama Roux members, dress as one night stands, ride in a school bus to the start of the riskay Krewe du Vieux parade during the 2016 Carnival season in New Orleans.
Krewe du Vieux rolls through the Marigny on February 11, 2017. Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee rhrphoto.com
Krewe du Vieux rolls through the Marigny on February 11, 2017. Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee rhrphoto.com
Krewe Delusion rolls through the Marigny in New Orleans on February 11, 2017. Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee rhrphoto.com
Iris krewe members decorating sunglasses for their parade, during Uptown get together on February 5, 2017. Iris, founded in 1917, is celebrating their 100th year as a carnival krewe. Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee rhrphoto.com
Iris: Krewe of Iris Captain Kristin Danflous talks with members during a French Quarter luncheon the day before their parade on Feb. 24, 2017. Founded in 1917, Iris was the first all female krewe. Danflous' family has been heading the krewe since the 1950's.
Members of Krewe d'Etat hang out on Bourbon Street before their parade during Carnival 2013.
Endymion rolls down Canal Street during Carnival 2014.
Endymion: Ending their parade in the Superdome, Krewe of Endymion's Extravaganza is well known in New Orleans for its elaborate floats and decadent parties. Founded in 1967, the super Krewe celebrated their 50th anniversary parading with Steven Tyler as Grand Marshall.
Krewe of Athena's Coronation Mardi Gras Ball during Carnival 2015. The all female parade is the first all black carnival parade to roll in suburb of Metairie.
Bearded Oysters members Becca Curry and Amelia Hoppe wait to march in Muses.
Indian practice at Kermit Ruffin's Mother-In-Law Lounge the Sunday before Mardi Gras day 2014.
Red Beans and Rice Parade on Lundi Gras in New Orleans Feb. 27, 2017. Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee - rhrphoto.com
Red Beans and Rice Parade on Lundi Gras in New Orleans Feb. 27, 2017. Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee - rhrphoto.com
Red Beans and Rice Parade on Lundi Gras in New Orleans Feb. 27, 2017. Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee - rhrphoto.com
Muses on February 23, 2017. Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee - www.rhrphoto.com -
Proteus rolls down St. Charles on February 27, 2017. Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee www.rhrphoto.com
Zulu: Members of Zulu have their faces painted a few hours before their parade rolls on Fat Tuesday 2014. Founded in 1909 by members of benevolent aid society groups, this first black krewe was a parody of Rex and commentary on segregation during carnival. Zulu members wear blackface as a form of anti-racist resistance by reclaiming the negative connotations through satire.
Big Chief Pie: Monogram Hunters Big Chief "Pie" Tyrone Stevenson puts on his white suit for the first time with the help of his son Tyrone Jr. on Fat Tuesday 2015. Starting at age 12, Big Chief Pie suited with Yellow Pocahontas. He was granted his own tribe in 1992 called the Monogram Hunters, named for Yellow Pocahontas Big Chief Tootie Montana's father’s tribe.
Black Hatchet Spy Boy on Fat Tuesday in New Orleans on February 28, 2017. Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee - rhrphoto.com
Fat Tuesday in New Orleans on February 28, 2017. Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee - rhrphoto.com
Spy Boy Horace: Creole Wild West Spy Boy Horace Anderson meets the Gold Blades tribe on Mardi Gras Day 2016. A tradition spanning back to 1880's Mardi Gras Indians or Black Indians are considered one of the first examples of American civil rights protest against segregation. Creole Wild West is believed to be the first organized tribe, and may have included members from Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show which wintered in New Orleans 1884-85. Adopting the look of Native Americans is a tribute to native peoples who took in escaped slaves. Their music hearkens to Congo Square, a Sunday meeting place for enslaved people to congregate around the beat of the drum and tambourine.
Beginning in the Bywater, the Society of Saint Anne parade reaches the French Quarter on Fat Tuesday, New Orleans 2012.
Painting over the 2016 Rex floats for 2017 a few weeks after Mardi Gras day. A small cast of artists, carpenters and more work year round to make the krewe's theme possible, and after the 4-5 hour parade through New Orleans they start over.