Still practicing their wave for their adoring crowds, the kings and queens of the Krewes of Des Allemands and Lul are preparing to usher in this year’s Mardi Gras season in St. Charles Parish.Nolan “Snookie” Frickey and his wife, Genevieve, say it’s an honor to serve as king and queen for the Krewe of Des Allemands.
The parade, in its 61st year, will roll at 1 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 7).
“Everybody has been so helpful,” said Genevieve Frickey. “It’s been a great experience. I was in one of the first parades – possibly the second or third – and that was fun. But this year, we’re going to have fun riding.”
A native of Des Allemands, Frickey mused she was surprised her husband agreed to being king because he told everybody that wasn’t his thing, but the couple agree it’s turning out to be a great experience for both of them.
They will ride in a float resembling Nolan Frickey’s 1931 Model A car and their children have covered everything – even down to boiling the crawfish for the celebration – to ensure they have a fun time as royalty.
“They said we’d done enough over the years, that it was their turn and we said, ‘Go ahead,” she said. “And they did – in great style.”
Of Nolan Frickey serving as parade royalty, he mused, “I wanted to be president but that job was taken and I decided to be king instead. It’s a one -time thing and it’s an honor.”
The parade helps keep the community together and serves an economic boost, he added.
“I think it brings the people together,” Frickey said. “People who get in a daily rut over work and kids have a chance to get out and revel a little bit, and enjoy themselves. They take away some of the stress of the world.”
For Nolan “Tom Poose” Boudreaux and his wife, Carmen, it’s the first time they will ride in the Krewe of Lul parade and also as its king and queen.
“It’s not bad,” he said of being royalty. “Me and the wife were leery about it, but the kids and grand kids pushed us. They are the ones who wanted us to do it, saying, ‘You’d be disappointed if you didn’t ride in it.’”
The parade will roll for the 39th year at noon Saturday (Feb. 6).
The krewe is already anticipating next year’s 40th anniversary of the parade, which they hope to celebrate with a Mardi Gras ball.
A native of Assumption Parish and resident of Luling, Nolan Boudreaux came to St. Charles Parish in 1955 to work for Monsanto, where he retired after 31 years of service. He married Carmen in 1957 and she retired from the parish school system.
Both Nolan and Carmen say the parade is a good thing for the area.
“It gets people together,” he said. “You’ve got quite a few floats and a bunch of people you meet and then it’s a longtime friendship after that.”
“It’s been an honor and I’ve been here all my life and was never asked about this before – and I’m 78,” said Carmen Frickey, who is ready to ride in the parade. “Everybody tells us we’ll have a great time.”
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