After being sidelined for a year, the Krewe of Des Allemands parade was back in action in 2022 to a strong reception from the community.
“We had so many people who got involved and let us know they were really happy to be a part of it … it let us know how people really missed the parade when he couldn’t have it,” said Mitzi Petit, who helps organize the Des Allemands parade annually.
At 1 p.m. this Sunday, Des Allemands rolls again. Petit estimates 10 to 12 floats will be a part of the action again, along with the local school bands, dance teams and ROTC, fire trucks and more.
“I don’t have a complete count as far as floats, but we’re probably looking at 10 to 12 … we’re not the biggest parade, but I think we’re the ‘funnest,’” Petit said with a laugh.
The route begins on Whitley Road before traveling up to U.S. Highway 90, turning into the town’s business district, heading down Dejean Street toward Old Spanish Trail and then backing up Lorraine Drive to the highway.
Fallan Hotard, Sr. and Cynthia Cortez Hotard reign this year as King and Queen. Elaine Andry Ayo and Carol LeBlanc Alvarez will be the Krewe’s Grand Marshals.
“Our royalty, we were very excited to ask them,” Petit said. “Our King and Queen are from the Lafourche side of Des Allemands. They’re very excited, working on throws and they had great time at the dance. Our Grand Marshals no longer live here, but they grew up here and have been huge supporters of our parade for a long time. We’re excited to see how excited they are.”
As in years past, St. Charles Parish Hospital will be collecting peanut butter and cash along the parade route. Everything collected will be donated to St. Charles Social concerns to stock their pantry. The tradition now spans more than 30 years.
This will be the parade’s 68th year, and Petit said it doesn’t get old – not for her, nor the tight-knit community that comes out en masse to celebrate Mardi Gras together each year.
“We’ve been going for a long time,” Petit said. “When we see how much people enjoy it and look forward to it, it just makes us feel good and want to keep doing it.”
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