Rex reigns over the streets of New Orleans today.
As is tradition, Rex has declared that school and work cease for the day, so the people can play:
"I'm just going to take over the city and make sure everybody has one hell of a time for Mardi Gras," the monarch said shortly before receiving the key to the city from Mayor Helena Moreno.
Rex's theme this year strikes a hopeful tone.
"Renewal and rebirth is a great theme, particularly this year," said the king. "We have a new mayor, as we all know, a new administration. There's a lot of optimism that if we put our nose to the grindstone, we're going to make this city better and better."