Here's your guide (with pictures!) to explore the Krewe of House Floats

Knock, knock . . . whos there? Well its a land shark of course. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, a shark appears at 2432 Jefferson Street in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. Wishing everyone a Happy Mardi Jaws, Melanie Maxey decorates a shark with a magicians outfit so it can join the pet parade of the Mystic Krewe of Sharkus, but its probably best to keep your pet pooch at least six feet away. Maxey is also one of the sub-krewe captains of the satirical Krewe du Vieux, known for its lewd and hilarious floats parodying celebrities, politics, and pop culture. This year the theme is Krewe du Vieux Has No Taste referring to the symptoms of losing taste and smell form COVID-19. The Krewe has a virtual parade on January 30 with some temporary art installations but note the parade is for an adults-only audience. A map is available and links to the virtual parade at kreweduvieux dot org. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Here’s your guide (with pictures!) to explore the Krewe of House Floats

by Matthew Hinton | February 1, 2021

The Krewe of House Floats is an initiative to decorate homes during the Carnival season because of the cancellation and postponement of parades and gatherings for Mardi Gras 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the cities floats have popped up often using out-of-work Mardi Gras artists from Stronghold Studios, Crescent City Artists, LLC, Kern Studios and artists working with the Krewe of Red Beans’ “Hire A Mardi Gras Artist,” initiative. All photos by Matthew Hinton

The interactive map is available on Google Maps.

Valerie Landry, left, and Marion Boreros are #ForeverFestin on 3027 Fortin Street for the Krewe of House Floats. @FlamingoHouseNOLA actually neighbors the Fair Grounds where the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival annually takes place but even though the 2020 Jazz Fest was postponed the neighbors are always festing and have decorated their home to look like different stages and food booths at Jazz Fest. The Krewe of House Floats is an initiative to decorate homes during the Carnival season because of the cancellation and postponement of parades and gatherings for Mardi Gras 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Its a little windy around the home of Katie and Jared Bankens in the 500 block of Seguin St. in Algiers Point due to a Sharknado watch. Taking a suggestion from their neighbor who grew up on the New England coast, where the fictional Amity Island of the movie Jaws is located, the Bankens and their neighbors went for a shark theme for their street and used their tornado-shaped bushes to help create a Sharknado themed house float. One neighbor also has a Jaws theme and another has a shark Tiki bar. Jared Bankens grew up in Lake Charles and his next door neighbors had to relocate from there because of the damage from Hurricane Laura. They painted their house as The Megalodon Temps Rouler a play on the phrase Les Bon Temps Rouler and the movie The Meg. The Krewe of House Floats is an initiative to decorate homes during the Carnival season because of the cancellation and postponement of parades and gatherings for #MardiGras2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Kelly Thompson and her daughter Emelia Thompson string lights on their home that is surrounded by sharks on the 500 block of Seguin Street in Algiers Point.Photo by Matthew Hinton

The house at 2918 Bell Street celebrates Chef Leah Chase complete with a smoke machine to simulate her cooking a big pot of gumbo in the Bayou St. John neighborhood in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. The house float is home to Mark Douce, his wife Alistair Johnson, and their son Sawyer Douce. The float is part of a theme for the street called Belles of the Bayou, celebrating important women in New Orleans history. Other homes on the street celebrate Voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau, singer Mahalia Jackson, and Baroness Pontalba, with others to feature performer Chris Owens and author Anne Rice. The porch decorations were created by the Stronghold Studios, a New Orleans entertainment display and prop company, with Douce creating the smoke. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Mardi Gras float artists Chelsea Kamm, brown hat, Joey Mercer, yellow mask, and Travis Keene, purple hoodie, help construct a house float designed by Caroline Thomas, enjoying a piece of pink King Cake, for Hire a Mardi Gras Artist a project of the Krewe of Red Beans. This float on 2656 LePage St. in the Fair Grounds neighborhood celebrates local wildlife and is called The Birds of Bulbancha. Residents who live in Orleans Parish and donate to the project are entered into the raffle to get one of the house floats and this float went to a raffle winner in the Fairgrounds neighborhood of New Orleans. The grassroots effort hopes to build 40 house floats for every $15,000 donated. The donations go towards supplies and hiring float artists, many who are out-of-work because of the cancellation of Mardi Gras and Carnival parades due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the three artists putting the float together many other artists helped sculpt and construct the birds and flowers for the float. Bulbancha is Choctaw word meaning place of many tongues, and was the name the indigenous people called the trading port in what is now New Orleans before the arrival of European colonists. The birds include a Great Egret, the centerpiece sculpture, and panels of a Great Blue Heron, Brown Pelican, Whooping Crane, and Roseate Spoonbill. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Cherry blossoms begin to bloom by big beads in the trees at 5202 Chestnut St. in the Audubon / Riverside neighborhood of New Orleans. Photo by Matthew Hinton

People pose for photos at the Big Freedia Queen of Bounce House, the home of Sarena Tang at 4321 Laurel St. in New Orleans. The porch decorations were created by the Stronghold Studios, a New Orleans entertainment display and prop company. Photo by Matthew Hinton

One of the beautiful things about New Orleans is you can unexpectedly find art by driving through a neighborhood causing you to make a quick U-turn. Sometimes youll make a couple of U-turns in the same place at different times. Maria Clark lives in the 800 block of Opelousas Ave. where she has made a house float she calls The Outer Limits of Boredom, in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. The theme refers to the Sci Fi and fantasy TV show from the 1960s and to staying at home a lot because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The house features a bunch of tentacles, a horned M&Ms Viking, and squid skeletons. Some of the items were used for Halloween and Christmas. Back at Christmas time Singer Meryl Zimmerman sang holiday tunes to her neighbors in the Algiers Point neighborhood in New Orleans, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, the last night of Hanukkah. For her Christmas Jazz in the Point concert on the porch, she was accompanied by Loyola Jazz Bass Professor Ed Wise and Eric Merchant on guitar. They played for socially distanced music lovers on the neutral ground and the front lawn on Opelousas Ave. Zimmerman said I want to give a shout out to my new neighborhood Algiers Point, its a fairytale land of wonders. Clark designed the house herself but had help from Rzi Stage Lighting to light the house at night. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Its Dino Gras on St. Charles Ave. at Rosa Park near State Street with a house looking like a Mardi Gras themed Jurassic Park with a velociraptor, brachiosaurus, and pterodactyl. All are wearing top hats and beads and a triceratops wears a carnival mask. The decorations were made by Kern Studios famous for designing floats for Super Krewes like Bacchus, Endymion, Orpheus and Muses. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Kern Studios has brought the Circus to town on 5531 St. Charles Ave. Photo by Matthew Hinton

A streetcar passes by the Queen Jubilee float house at 2701 St.Charles Ave. created by the Krewe of Red Beans Hire a Mardi Gras Artist in New Orleans, La. Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Normally home to yard full of skeletons parodying pop culture the Skeleton House NOLA by Louellen Berger is has setup a display for Mardi Gras. Berger said No Parades, but we will still celebrate at Maison MASKquerade at St. Charles Ave. near the corner of State Street. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Kern Studios has build a NOLA house at the corner of St. Charles Ave. and Audubon Place. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Mardi Gras Bees fly around flowers at 6016 St. Charles Ave. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Well what else would you find on Flamingo Street in New Orleans, but a Flamingo House Float? The decorations at Lakeshore home were created by Crescent City Artists, LLC. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Darren Brouillette and David Bockstruck decorate their porch for the Carnival / Mardi Gras season Sunday, January 10, 2021 in the Milan neighborhood of New Orleans. Photo by Matthew Hinton

The Krewe du Vieux sub-krewe of L.E.W.D. has unleashed Super Spreader, a super villain, on the 3200 block of Milan Street. The satirical Krewe du Vieux is known for its lewd and hilarious floats parodying celebrities, politics, and pop culture. This year the theme is Krewe du Vieux Has No Taste referring to the symptoms of losing taste and smell form COVID-19. The Krewe has a virtual parade on January 30 with some temporary art installations but note the parade is for an adults only audience. A map is available and links to the virtual parade at kreweduvieux dot org. Photo by Matthew Hinton

A home on Laurel Street in the Irish Channel, though some may hear it as Yanny Street, is seen with large Venetian-inspired Mardi Gras masks and giant beads strewn across. Photo by Matthew Hinton

A crowned cocodrie, a French spelling of crocodile, is seen on a Mardi Gras decorated porch on Laurel Street in the Irish Channel neighborhood of New Orleans. Alligators are native to Louisiana though not crocodiles, but there is Cocodrie, Louisiana in Terrebonne Parish. Photo by Matthew Hinton

The Home Malone gift shop on 4610 Magazine Street features decorations by Stronghold Studios. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Tiki Volcano float house, 522 Leontine St. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Happy Yardi Gras. Photo by Matthew Hinton

The not officially part of the Krewe of House floats Jeff Thomas has been decorating his home on Burgundy St. (pronounced Brr-gun-dee in New Orleans) in the Bywater neighborhood with such themes as Bywater Asylum or The 9th Ward Orphanage, or Hillbilly Hollow. He uses at least 13 dolls with various masks. Normally Thomas only decorates for Halloween but he has already caused people to stop and pause as they walk by with The Ladies of Corona a group of mannequins holding toilet paper and wearing masks. Now he has decorated for Mardi Gras complete with a mannequin begging for beads. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Though not officially part of the Krewe of House floats Jeff Thomas has been decorating his home on Burgundy St. (pronounced Brr-gun-dee in New Orleans) in the Bywater neighborhood with such themes as Bywater Asylum or The 9th Ward Orphanage, or Hillbilly Hollow. He uses at least 13 dolls with various masks. Normally Thomas only decorates for Halloween but he has already caused people to stop and pause as they walk by with The Ladies of Corona a group of mannequins holding toilet paper and wearing masks. Now he has decorated for Mardi Gras complete with a mannequin begging for beads. Photo by Matthew Hinton

The Iberia Bank on St. Charles Ave. and Louisiana Ave. is an ode to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Shakespeare and was created by Royal Artists for the Krewe of Red Beans’ “Hire a Mardi Gras Artist.” Photo by Matthew Hinton

Mardi Gras Decorators of Slidell owner Rachel Elsensohn has loaned some of her float pieces including Pete Fountain a Jester and two large gators to this float house on 808 Napoleon Ave. Photo by Matthew Hinton

New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts on 5256 Magazine has created a Gogh Mardi Gras, float inspired by impressionist painter Vincent Van Goghs studies of flowers. Photo by Matthew Hinton

The LEGO 2020 float house is on the 400 block of Eliza St. in Algiers. Photo by Matthew Hinton

The Krewe of Nevermore on Opelousas Ave. in Algiers features Ravens and what appears to be The Tell-Tale Heart. Photo by Matthew Hinton

These puppies are free to a good home in front of a City Park neighborhood house decorated with the theme Mardi Gras Unleashed, at the corner of Carrollton and City Park Ave. The home features a #PorchFloat created by Crescent City Artists, LLC. #CrescentCityArtists states that they are the first Black-owned Mardi Gras float service providers in Louisiana and are led by a New Orleans husband and wife duo Rene and Inez Pierre. The beads and crown were created by Stronghold Studios. The group has created several porch floats to fit on balconies and porches for the Krewe of House Floats, an initiative to decorate homes during the Carnival season because of the cancellation and postponement of parades and gatherings for Mardi Gras 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Matthew Hinton

The Welcome to Lakeview : Schitt$ Streets parodies the potholes in Lakeview and pays homage to characters from the TV show Schitt’s Creek at 5975 Canal Blvd. Photo by Matthew Hinton

The Krewe of Red Beans’ “Hire A Mardi Gras Artist,” has decorated the Mignon Faget store on 3801 Magazine Street with butterflies.

Sharks have been spotted in this pool, but as long as you stay six feet away, you can pick up some free beads and learn some interesting shark facts from the Krewe of Science House at 727 First Street in the Irish Channel. Elizabeth Carter started posting different science topics on her fence during the pandemic including information about COVID-19 and other themes about different animals that live in Louisiana. Carter is an LSU law professor who previously worked in vaccine development after attaining a degree in biology. The Irish Channel neighborhood has chosen Channel Surfing for their theme in the Krewe of House Floats. The Krewe of House Floats is an initiative to decorate homes during the Carnival season because of the cancellation and postponement of parades and gatherings for #MardiGras2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, Carter took part in the satirical Krewe of Tucks parade. Keeping with the channel surfing theme Carter and her husband Adam Swensek chose Shark Week. She also has coloring books and toys for kids in the neighborhood along with Mardi Gras beads. The #PorchFloat decorations were created by Crescent City Artists, LLC. #CrescentCityArtists states that they are the first Black-owned Mardi Gras float service providers in Louisiana and are led by a New Orleans husband and wife duo Rene and Inez Pierre. Live everyday like its Shark Week. Photo by Matthew Hinton

The Irish Channel neighborhood has chosen Channel Surfing for their theme in the Krewe of House Floats. This house has gone with a Jeopardy! theme at 2371 Chippewa Street. Photo by Matthew Hinton

The Little Shop of 2020 Horrors on 430 Bounty St., in Algiers includes the killer plant Seymour from the movie musical and a dumpster fire parodying Sidney Torres IV. Photo by Matthew Hinton

A Delta fraternity house from the movie Animal House parodies the Krewe of Chad, a pejorative term for fraternities or other temporary residents to the city that try to claim all the spots along parade routes during Mardi Gras. The house is on the 400 block of Bounty Street in Algiers. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Are we all wasting away in Cornoaville? This house with the theme Wasted Away Again in Coronaville, is on 315 Bermuda St. in Algiers. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Skeletons line the uptown parade route on Napoleon Ave. near Constance Street. Photo by Matthew Hinton

The Krewe of Tucks celebrates Yardi Gras at General Haig St. at Harrison Ave. in Lakeview. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Nothing mends a broken heart like sticking a needle or two into a Voodoo doll like this Krewe du Voodoo house on 401 Octavia created by artists Chandra Leming, @chandarchandar, and Rikki Fabra, @fabracations_17. The Krewe du Voodoo is part of the Audubon / Riverside sub-krewe of the Krewe of House Floats. The Krewe of House Floats is an initiative to decorate homes during the Carnival season because of the cancellation and postponement of parades and gatherings for #MardiGras2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Youll have to float to see some house floats on Bayou St. John. These floats were created by Crescent City Artists, LLC. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Stuffed animals inhabit a Mardi ladder near the 1800 block of Peniston Street. Photo by Matthew Hinton

The home of New Orleans Councilman Jay H. Banks, the 2016 Zulu King, is on the 1800 block of Peniston Street and is decorated as a house float with masked up coconuts in the Milan neighborhood in New Orleans. The Krewe of Zulu and other parades will not roll this year because of pandemic, but many homes throughout the city are being decorated as #HouseFloats and #PorchFloats, while others decorate their yards for #YardiGras. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Nothing is im-Possum-ble on the 4300 block of Burgundy street in the Bywater. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Kern Studios created this Jester house on Nashville Street. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Michael and Stacey Burke to a three-piece Cajun band led by fiddler-singer Louis Michot of the Lost Bayou Ramblers in front of the Acadiana Hayride house float by Hire A Mardi Gras Artist, a grassroots initiative by the Krewe of Red Beans. The float features a horse-drawn hayride of Zydeco and Cajun music legends like Wilson Anthony “Boozoo” Chavis, D.L. Menard, and Clifton Chenier. A giant accordion that would take at least two people to play was put on the top of the home and was installed by Travis Keene, black jeans, and Joey Mercer, blue jeans, with a little help from Michael Burke. Burke is a retired gaffer or chief lighting technician for Law and Order SVU and Criminal Intent and he put his experience to work by lighting up the home at night. The float wraps around to the other side with more notes and names of Cajun and Zydeco bands on the home on Euterpe Street in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans. The house float initiative hopes to build 40 house floats for every $15,000 donated. The donations go towards supplies and hiring float artists, many who are out-of-work because of the cancellation of Mardi Gras and Carnival parades due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents who live and own a home in Orleans Parish that donate to the project are entered into the raffle to get one of the house floats even for a small sum like $25. The #HouseFloat was designed by Caroline Thomas with additional artwork by Ryan Blackwood and Daniel Fuselier. Photo by Matthew Hinton

The first house float decorated by the Krewe of Red Beans initiative “Hire a Mardi Gras Artist is The Night Tripper on Toledano Street, paying tribute to musician Dr. John, Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (November 20, 1941 June 6, 2019). The grassroots effort hopes to build 40 house floats for every $15,000 donated. But anyone who lives and owns a home in Orleans Parish and donates even a small sum like $25 is entered into a raffle for a chance to get the house float makeover. The donations go towards supplies and hiring float artists, many who are out-of-work because of the cancellation of Mardi Gras and Carnival parades due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Matthew Hinton

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Matthew Hinton

Matthew Hinton is a New Orleans area freelance photographer whose work has been recognized by the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Best of Photojournalism Awards in 2014 and 2016, and by numerous awards from the Press Club of New Orleans, including the Hal Ledet President's Print Photography Award, the highest honor the Press Club can bestow upon a photographer.
Matthew Hinton has previously been a staff photographer at both of the daily newspapers in New Orleans. His work has appeared nationally and internationally through freelance work with the Associated Press and AFP, Agence France-Presse.

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