New Fringe Mardi Gras Krewes

Blame it on the fact that New Orleans has suffered a bizarre flooding (in 2005) which has changed its Mardi Gras parade tradition even more than the normal evolution of new parades coming and old standbys slowly dying. Fact is, since the hurricane destroyed so much of the city we have a few new, interesting, weird, mostly satirical, minor, but entertaining Mardi Gras parades to see.

The newest is the Krewe of Delusion, a collection of new and old marching groups gathered under a heady, self-made philosophy and governance that declare New Orleans to be the center of the universe (one of our many delusions). Harry Shearer, the actor, filmmaker, commentator, voice on 'The Simpsons' and New Orleanian, is its ruler. Only locals can get away with this kind of thing.

“Benevolent autocratic dementia is a form of government we believe in,” Shearer said as representative of the krewe. It fits because that's the kind of government New Orleans has always had, a demented one. The tools of the parade will be satire, poking fun at local politics, local traditions, the dysfunctional city government and itself.But there are more new "unusual" ones parading since the hurricane.

The Krewe du Jieux (New Orleans Jewish Mardi Gras Parade who's king wears a massive golden bagel around his neck), Noisician Coalition (a rag tag group of musicians who play their own "invented instruments" dressed in whatever and described by the founder as a"collection of fools") and the Camel Toe Lady Steppers (described as a group of classy ladies who like to dress "real fancy"....bizarre might be a better description), and Krewe of Bananas give away their satirical bent with their names. The Krewe of 6t’9 formed after Hurricane Katrina and puts on an annual Halloween parade. Haha That's right, 6t9. Ask your mom to explain what that one is about, I won't do it.

Then there is the flood of illegal Hispanic immigrant who poured into New Orleans after the hurricane in search of work. There still here and want to participate in the Greatest Free Show on Earth too. The Krewe of Amigos de los Amigos formed last year to pay homage to the city's expanded Hispanic presence. The Amigos will serve as security escorts for the Delusion parade, donning Mexican wrestler outfits and holding up wrestling ring ropes population. Stereotypes make sense during Mardi Gras because they make us laugh.

Then then there is the AllKreweists, founded by a group of mostly non Hispanic and completely legal transplants who came to New Orleans to do recovery work after the storm and fell under the city's spell. They fell in love with the city, made it their home, and want everyone to know they are already as crazy as the rest of us who live here. And so it goes here at Mardi Gras