February 4, 2012, New Orleans, the Krewe du Vieux Mardi Gras parade's roles through the Marigny and then into the French Quarter. A group of people dressed as cats march in the parade. The theme for the Krewe du Vieux parade for 2012 was Crimes Against Nature. (Photo by Julie Dermansky/Corbis via Getty Images)

Weekend Picks: Smaller equals raunchier, as far as parades go

by Mary Staes | February 14, 2019

Smaller doesn’t necessarily mean “more contained,” and if you go to this weekends parades in the French Quarter, you’ll see why.

With one one more week until the bigger krewes hit the avenue, this weekend is for the satirical, rowdier folks.

Here are our weekend picks:

Friday, Feb. 15

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156274823149542&set=gm.433226507414132&type=3&theater

What: Pancakes and Booze Art Show
Where: The Howlin’ Wolf
When: 8 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Price: $12
The pop-up art show happens every year in more than 30 different cities. The New Orleans popup features live performances from local DJ’s and music producers, free all you can eat pancakes (!!!), and more than 50 local artists showing off hundreds of pieces of their work. Click here for more information.

What: Krewe Boheme
Where: Marigny/French Quarter
When: 7 p.m.
Price: Free
A new krewe this year, this parade is led by a symbol of the bohemian spirit, a green absinthe fairy. This year’s theme is ‘La Vie Boheme.’ Click here to see the route. 

Sat. Feb. 16

What: Krewe du Vieux
Where: French Quarter
When: 6:30 p.m.
Price: Free
Known for its satire and adult themes, this isn’t the parade to bring your kids to. This parade also showcases on the the city’s best brass and jazz bands. Click here to see the route.

What: Krewedelusion
Where: French Quarter
When: 7 p.m.
Price: Free
What might be one of Carnival’s “weirdest” parades is turning 10 this year. The krewe views New Orleans as the “center of the universe,” and hey, who are we to disagree? Click here to see the route.

Sun., Feb. 17

What: Krewe of Thoth Open House
Where: Thoth Den, 1659 St. Thomas Street
When: 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Price: Free
Want to go behind the scenes of a parade? Open houses offer the perfect sneak peek at parade float’s and the hard work that goes into putting parades on every year.

1659 St Thomas St
Getting there
1659 St Thomas St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 04: Memebers of the Krewe of Zulu parde dispite ther rain Mardi Gras day on March 4, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Fat Tuesday, the traditional celebration on the day before Ash Wednesday and the begining of Lent, is marked in New Orleans with parades and marches through many neighborhoods in the city.(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

What: Faces of Zulu 
Where: Whiskey and Sticks
When: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Price: Free
Can’t wait for Fat Tuesday to see the colorful costumes of Zulu? Check out this exhibition from Ashley Lorraine Photography. Click here for more info.

Whiskey & Sticks
Getting there
2513 Bayou Rd, New Orleans, LA 70119, USA
Hours
Mon-Tue Closed
Wed-Sat 6 PM – 12 AM
Sun Closed
More Info

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Mary Staes

Mary Staes

Mary Staes is Digital Content Lead for Very Local. She works with our freelancers and crafts content for our social media platforms and website. Before Very Local, she worked with CBS affiliate WWL-TV as a web producer and weekend assignment editor for about 4 years. She has also handled broadcast coverage for 160 Marine Reserve training facilities while she served as an active duty Marine. As a native New Orleanian, she takes being "very local" to heart. She loves being intertwined with the culture and figuring out how there are less than two degrees of separation between us all, whether we're natives or not.

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