One of the newest players in the New Orleans area Carnival season is set to return from its COVID-induced one-year hiatus to once again grace the Jefferson Parish parade route.
With just 32 floats filled with just under 1,000 riders, the Krewe of MadHatters will take to the streets on February 19 at 5pm with a lineup that features a number of local celebrities and bands.
WWL Radio will be well-represented as midday host Scoot will serve as the Grand Marshal, while Sports Talk co-hosts Bobby Hebert and Mike Detillier will be accompanied by their wives on a VIP horse-drawn carriage that will herald the arrival of the station’s own float.
“New Orleans, Trinidad, and Brazil… those are the three cultures that truly have embraced Carnival season where it’s to the next level,” Hebert said on his radio show Monday in announcing his and Detillier’s involvement. “And that’s why I truly think New Orleans is special.”
WWL-TV morning show host Eric Paulsen will ride as the MadHatter, while Dr. Joey and Gwen Lacoste of Louisiana Dental Center will serve as captains.
“It seems like yesterday that we launched this MadHatters parade,” Lacoste told Scoot on WWL Radio before thanking the station for helping them get the parade off the ground in 2020. Then Lacoste asked Scoot live on the air if he would serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal.
“I would be honored,” Scoot responded. “Thank you so much. That’ll be fun.”
Other celebrity VIPs joining in the revelry include WWL-TV chief meteorologist Chris Franklin, WDSU-TV anchors Sula Kim and Travers Mackel, along with sports anchor Fletcher Mackel, and Fox TV anchors Kim Holden and Lee Zurik.
All celebrity VIPs will be costumed as characters from the seminal tale Alice in Wonderland.
Lacoste also mentioned that the parade will work with several local charities who will have a presence in the parade, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Children’s Hospital, and the Devoted Dreamers Foundation started by New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis.
The Krewe will also dedicate a float to the teachings of Christianity and will have around 3,000 Bibles to hand out along the route.
“We did it last year and the year before in the Krewe of Kings,” Lacoste said, “but this year we’re bringing him front and forward... That will be very special.”
As for music, the parade will feature a number of local acts including the Robin Barns Band, Dalila with Groovy 7, Vince Vance & the Valiants, Harvey Jesus, Amanda Shaw, Bag of Donuts, the Chee-Weez, Table for 4, the Fury, Category 6, Abdul the Tentmaker and Brasshearts.
For more information about the lineup and route, click here.
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