MARDI GRAS GUIDE 2018 161

Carnival’s fifth-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 floats to Mardi Gras in 1947. Mid-City’s floats 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-cityAppearing on horseback, the captain and officers lead the club’s 200 male mem-bers. New Orleans artist Ricardo Pustanio designed the 17-float parade and cos-tumes are designed by D&D Creations. The theme of this year’s 85th annual parade is MID-CITY TOURING COMPANY. Floats will depict such subjects as Hoodoo on the Bayou, Let’s Rock ‘n Bowl, and Friday Night Football. Eric Robert Baird reigns as King Mid-City LXXXV and Tori J’Nae Wright is Queen Mid-City LXXXV. Krewe-logo throws include vinyl stress dolls, sunglasses, plush fleur de lis, t-shirts, sunshades, cups, frisbees, potato chips, footballs, koozies, and doubloons in several colors. Mid-City will stage its ball on February 9, 2018, at the Sheraton Hotel.

oKeanosTRAVEL WITH OKEANOS is the theme of the 69th procession of this 275-member club. Included in the 21 floats are ones that salute Paris, Hawaii, Nashville, and Miami. Reigning as Okeanos LXIX is Dr. R. Marcus Vennart. Bands from Archbishop Rummel and St. Mary’s Dominican High School and others will perform in the parade. Okeanos presents its king, 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 krewe-emblemed throws include special 10 gauge dou-bloons in purple, green, gold, and black; multi-color theme and captains doubloons; sand pails; beads; and cups. The Okeanos signature 13-inch crawfish trays in teal will be the most prized throw in 2018. This year’s ball, where the queen is selected by blind draw, will be held at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel Saturday, January 27, 2018.

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 first 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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