168 MARDI GRAS GUIDE 2020

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Carnival’s fi fth-oldest parading organiza-tion, the Krewe of Mid-City was founded in 1933. Named for the neighborhood where its procession began until the 2002 season, the club introduced animated fl oats to Mardi Gras in 1947. Mid-City’s fl oats get their unique appearance from their tin foil covering, the only club to decorate this way. The youthful themes selected by this imaginative group make it a favorite among children. Some throws feature interlocking hearts and the French motto Pour La Joie De Vivre—for the joy of life. www.kreweofmid-city.com

MID-CITYThe captain and offi cers appear on horseback and lead the club’s 200 member

male and female krewe. New Orleans artist Ricardo Pustanio designed the colorful, aluminum foil 17-fl oat parade (the only one of its kind), and costumes were designed by D & D Creations. The theme of this year’s 87th annual parade is HEART BREAKERS AND HEAD BANGERS. Floats will depict such subjects as For Whom the Bell Tolls, Love Is a Battlefi eld, and Sweet Dreams. Also look for the special signa-ture City Park fl oat. Julie Ann Crawford is Queen Mid-City LXXXVII. Krewe-logo throws include vinyl stress man dolls, plush guitars, locally produced t-shirts, sunshades, cups, f risbees, footballs, koozies, four different types of beads, doubloons in several colors and the new redesigned foil bag CheeWees. Mid-City will stage its annual ball on February 21, 2020, at the Sheraton Hotel.

OKEANOSOKEANOS HONORS THE GODS is the theme of this year’s 23-fl oat parade

produced by Phil Fricano. The 320 members will ride fl oats such as Mercury, Venus Goddess of Love, and Okeanos God of Fertile Rivers and Valleys. Okeanos presents its King, George Voulgarakis, past queen, past maids and their dukes in the parade, along with this year’s junior maids, junior dukes, ladies in waiting, and pages to the King. The parade traditionally features nearly 90 units. Krewe-emblemed throws include doubloons in several colors, pearl bracelets, Sunday Spice t-shirts, boil spice packets, Carmel Corn, special krewe beads, and theme cups. The Okeanos signature 13.5-inch teal crawfi sh trays will be the most prized throw in 2020. This year’s ball, where the Queen is selected by blind draw, will be held at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, Saturday, February 8, 2020.

The Krewe of Okeanos was organized in 1949 when civic-minded business lead-ers decided to bring a Carnival parade to St. Claude Avenue, their neighbor-hood’s main street. Sponsored by the Sonaeko (Okeanos spelled backwards) Club, Okeanos is named for the Greek god of oceans and fertile valleys. Okeanos presented its fi rst ball and parade in 1950. Though the original parade route has changed, the imaginative club continues to impress. In place of the traditional bal masque, the club presents an elegant Coro-nation Ball at which its queen is selected by lottery. www.kreweofokeanos.org

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©2020 Arthur Hardy Enterprises, Inc.

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