Celebrating its 40th anniversary
Marking its 40th year of revelry in Luling, the Krewe of Lul will roll with 62 units and 23 floats this Mardi Gras season.
“We’re just looking forward to it,” said Debbie Dufresne Vial, parade organizer. “It’s a milestone year. We have pretty much the same participation we’ve had through the years and we look forward to celebrating with good weather – and to another 40 to 50 years.”
The parade will be held at noon Saturday (Feb. 25). Beginning at Winnwood Shopping Center, the route will turn onto Paul Maillard Road, take a right onto River Road, a right onto Sugarhouse Road, another right onto Angus Road and circle back to the same shopping center.
Parade Captain Charles Oubre said, “It’s just continuing on what’s been happening since 1978 … providing the people in the parish a nice family event.”
Leading the parade will be King and Queen George and Lonnine Adamietz of Luling followed by Grand Marshal Dorothy St. Amant Dufresne, also of Luling.
A new addition to the krewe’s royalty is chaplain. This year, Father Bernard Francis, pastor emeritus with Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Hahnville, will be at the reviewing stand on Sugarhouse Road near Monsanto Ballpark.
Parish President Larry Cochran also will be among parade riders.
Paradegoers can anticipate 23 floats, as well as eight dance teams, 20 members of royalty from other festivals and pageants, four fire trucks including two from Luling and one from Killona and one from Paradis.
Hahnville High School’s band, cheerleaders and dance team also will be in the lineup. St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office and St. Charles Hospital EMS will be on the scene.
Per Krewe of Lul tradition, there is no parade theme. Each float will have its own theme and throws.
Paradegoers are asked to bring a jar of peanut butter to the parade. The St. Charles Social Concerns will have a peanut butter truck in the lineup collecting the jars or cash donations for the food pantry. Oubre said this is a 20-year tradition for the parade.
At the end of the parade will be the Arc of St. Charles collecting beads from anyone who wants to contribute them.
Oubre said as soon as this year’s parade is over they start meeting to start planning next year’s parade.
Along with Defresne and Oubre, parade captains are Russell Lauve, Randy Lauve, Wanda Candies and Quincee Berthelet.
“We’re just hoping for good weather,” Oubre said. “The people who are into Mardi Gras look forward to this every year. It’s like [krewes of] Bacchus and Endymion are to the people of New Orleans. That’s what it’s like for the people of Luling.”
Be the first to comment