The Mardi Gras 2016 season is in full swing in New Orleans and all of Louisiana, but some of the best things are yet to come. Every year, millions of locals mix with millions of tourists to enjoy parades, great food, good times, amazing drinks, and plenty of questionable occurrences. On Saturday, the iconic and controversial Krewe du Vieux will roll, and it has a theme of “Rated XXX” and is hosted by recording artist and reality star Big Freedia, so anything can happen.
As WGNO called it, the Krewe du Vieux is a one-of-a-kind parade that begins in the Marigny in New Orleans and ends in the Central Business District (CBD). It’s going to be an interesting parade that will be unlike anything else seen during the Carnival Season.
Krewe du Vieux does start at 6 p.m. Central Time in New Orleans, and it will be followed directly by Krewe-Delusion.
Some wonder exactly what will be happening at a parade that is “Rated XXX” and hosted by the wildly fun and over-the-top Big Freedia. Well, anything is possible to happen and that is what parade-goers need to be prepared for.
The official website for Krewe du Vieux, or as it calls itself this year, Krewe du Vieuxxx, is there to give people info, and also to warn them. They don’t want anyone to be surprised or too shocked when they appear on the parade route.
“Hoping to XXX out at least a few of the bad guys and bad memories, the extroverts, extremists, extra-terrestrials, expendables, sexplorers and sexperts of Krewe du Vieux will take to the streets of the Marigny, French Quarter and CBD on Saturday, January 23 at 6:00 PM (coming early this year). Spectators are advised to exercise extreme caution as exuberant exhibitionists extort exotic exfoliations of their extremities.”
If the parade of Krewe du Vieux isn’t enough for you, there will be a post-parade ball held at The Civic on O’Keefe Ave. in New Orleans beginning that night. Doors will open at 9 p.m. and the music starts at 10 p.m., but tickets are $40 each and only a limited number of them are available.
It isn’t exactly known what “Rated XXX” means for the onlookers and parade-goers, but they’re going to find out soon enough. They just need to be prepared for whatever may come their way.
Every year, the Krewe du Vieux has float designs, costumes, and more aimed at poking fun at different people and organizations. No one quite knows who will be the focus of their ridicule and satire this year, as NOLA.com reports, but spokesman Keith Twitchell says they’ve gotten better over the years.
“I do think we’ve gotten more artistic in our tastelessness.”
Politicians (local and nationwide), celebrities, and reality stars are often a good possibility of who may see ridicule and fun-poking come their way.
This year, many local politicians may see themselves as the focus of the satire, especially with the issue of New Orleans’ confederate monuments. Many of them are poised to come down after saying they were offensive to many people, but lawsuits are currently keeping them in place.
New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans aging owner Tom Benson could find his likeness on a float as it travels through the city. So many things are possible.
Mardi Gras 2016 is already allowing everyone to have fun and it is still going to continue for a few more weeks. New Orleans residents and tourists from all over are about to experience a “Rated XXX” feature though as Krewe du Vieux sets out on its route on Saturday night.
[Image by Skip Bolen/Getty Images]