River Parishes took over national Mardi Gras celebration
For over 60 years, Louisiana residents have flocked to the nation’s capital to show the world what a Mardi Gras celebration looks like.
This year, the 63rd Annual Mystick Krewe of Louisianians Ball and festivities in Washington D.C. focused on the River Parishes for the first time and featured art and industry from right here in St. Charles.
The festivities were held on Feb. 11-12 and the king of this year’s celebration was Glen Smith, a Norco native and CEO of Magnolia Companies in St. Rose. He is also a 30-year member of the Jerusalem Shriners and his company sponsors the organization’s charity car show each year. He has been a member of the 500-member krewe for 20 years.
The weekend-long celebrations included 11 events, such as a King’s Reception, River Region Economic Development Initiative Breakfast, Senator Mary Landrieu’s Small Business Breakfast and the Mardi Gras Ball.
Ted Jones, one of the event organizers, said that about 2,500 people attended the Friday Festival and over 3,000 attended the ball on Saturday.
“It was well attended and well enjoyed,” Jones said. “(Smith) did a great job as king and added some things that we had not done before.”
As king, Smith added a few special touches to this year’s event, including a battle of the bands between Grambling and Southern universities.
Also featured in the festivities was local Hahnville artist Lorraine Gendron, whose work adorned the posters for the event.
Gendron got the chance to meet with krewe captain Senator Mary Landrieu and Senator David Vitter, and got to fly home on the same flight as Governor Bobby Jindal.
“Mary Landrieu spoke of the economic progress of the River Parishes,” Gendron said. “The River Parishes are prospering more than the whole country – I was impressed with that.”
Nancy Wilson, Hahnville resident and founder of Mam Papaul’s, accompanied Gendron on the trip and said that her artwork was everywhere during the weekend.
“The banquet was lovely, the ball was lovely, we had a great time,” Wilson said.
Gendron said she and Wilson also got the opportunity to meet the Storyville Stompers Jazz Band when they shared a bus to the hotel from the airport.
“It was a very pleasant visit and the ball was just beautiful,” Gendron said.
St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre also attended the event to represent the River Parishes.
“This year was the first time every statewide elected official, including congressmen and senators, attended,” St. Pierre said. “I was able to really ‘corner’ folks that are in positions to make policy decisions on issues directly affecting St. Charles Parish, getting our message across.”
The D.C. Mardi Gras ball was first held in 1944, but was not fully founded as the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians until 1957. Now one of the most popular events in town, according to the krewe, people from other towns even call the Hilton, where the ball is held, to request to work the weekend of the event. While the event started with displaced D.C. Louisianians, about 90 percent of participants now come in from Louisiana. The ball is completely self-sustaining with costs covered by the sale of tickets, donations and krewe memberships. Visit www.mkofl.com for more information.
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