The Sunday before Mardi Gras is always a big day, but this year’s Sunday will go down as one of the largest yet, as Endymion was rescheduled due to rain to roll behind the other big super-krewe, Bacchus. The day started with parades Okeanos, Mid-City, and Thoth. The Krewe of Thoth, who have been parading since 1947, started at State and Tchoupitoulas, went down Magazine Street, and then down Napoleon and St. Charles avenues along the standard route. Thoth’s theme this was “Thoth Goes to College”.
In the afternoon, the Box of Wine marching parade warmed the crowd up for Bacchus. Starting at the Sandpiper Lounge on Louisiana Avenue, it made its way downtown along the St. Charles Avenue parade route with the Panorama Brass Band and the Noisician Coalition providing the musical accompaniment. This year, Box of Wine’s 17th parading, the theme was Metamorphosis: Turning Water into Wine.
At dusk it was time for the enormous Krewe of Bacchus parade, famous for its Bacchasaurus, Bacchagator, and Bacchawhoppa super-floats. This year’s King was actor Andy Garcia, and the theme was “Bacchus Salutes America’s Greatest Generation.”
