Nothing says Monday in New Orleans like red beans and rice, so of course there had to be a special way to celebrate the traditional dish on Lundi Gras. A few years ago, friends founded the Red Beans & Rice Parade, which marches through the Marigny and Treme in “garb d’legumes”—costumes made with rice, red beans, white beans, black-eyed peas, and more. The parade is led by Grand Marshal for Life Al “Carnival Time” Johnson and the Treme Brass Band, and this year had a special feature of a 1970s Volkswagen outfitted with a new coat of beans.

All photos were taken by Kim Welsh.

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