It’s shaping up to be a festive weekend across New Orleans and the surrounding area as the region celebrates its deep roots with a lineup of parades and cultural traditions.
Saturday features the beloved Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Parade drawing crowds eager for food, music, and colorful throws.
The celebrations continue Sunday with the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Metairie Road.
Organizers say, "We proudly present a parade of over 100 floats, trucks, bands, marching clubs and all the throws you can get your hands on."
And if you plan to attend the parades, come prepared to catch more than beads. You could almost "make groceries" with what you could catch...including Lucky Charms, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and other produce.
Sunday is also Super Sunday, when Mardi Gras Indians gather in full regalia to celebrate tradition and craftsmanship.
Among them is Spy Boy Walter of the Creole Apache Tribe. Cook says this year’s suit honors one of the region’s most powerful forces, the Mississippi River.
“It gives life to everything in this region, Spyboy Walter said. “I wanted to create something that honored the river and the role it plays in sustaining the culture and the land.”
From heritage parades to Mardi Gras Indian traditions, the weekend offers a vivid reminder of the cultures that shape life in New Orleans with plenty of opportunities to celebrate them in the streets.
The fun continues Tuesday with the Downtown Irish Club Parade.
On March 22nd we have the Irish-Italian Parade in Metairie.
The Italian-American St. Joseph’s Parade rolls on March 28th in the French Quarter.
This year’s St. Joseph’s Parade marks a historic moment for the Italian-American Club of New Orleans. For the first time in the organization’s long history, women will ride in the parade.
Club president Peter Gilberti says the change was both practical and symbolic.
“Security costs for parades have gone up significantly since the New Year’s attack,” Gilberti said. “Crews and clubs are sometimes paying double or triple what they used to, so we needed new membership. But it also felt like the right time to move forward and welcome women into the parade.”
This year, the St. Joseph’s parade is adding something new to the mix: decorated lemons.