MARDI GRAS MANIA

BY STARLA GATSON

Tony’s fascination with Mardi Gras culture led him to join the Krewe of Janus, and though years have passed since the Glenwood Regional Medical Center x-ray technician’s first Mardi Gras experience, his excitement for the festivities does not seem to have waned a bit. “On Friday nights before the parade on Saturday and that Saturday morning, you drive the parade route — I always do every year — you already see people staking out their spots,” he says. “You don’t see that everywhere. It’s really good to be part of a krewe that still puts on a family-style parade that everybody can enjoy. That’s important, and it’s so exciting to be a part of all that.”

Though he looks forward to the Janus parade each year, this year’s event, which will roll through town February 15th, is sure to be a special one for Tony, as he and fellow krewe member, Donna Tolar, will reign over the festivities as King and Queen Janus XXXVII.

According to Donna, whose husband, Sammy, was last year’s king, the royal coupling just makes perfect sense. “An interesting thing is, it was, I think, 10 years ago, the King and I were Duke and Duchess together,” she explains. “And we had always said if we were ever to do it that we would do it together. So, if you have two people like that — they’re both enthusiastic and really enjoy each other — it makes a difference when you get out in the community.”

Passion for the community is a characteristic that appears to be shared not only by the King and Queen, but also the Krewe of Janus as a whole. “We enjoy what we do, and even if there wasn’t a soul there, we would still run the parade, I think,” Tony says. Fortunately for krewe members, a patron-less parade seems highly unlikely; each year, thousands line the streets of Monroe and West Monroe to see the decorated floats, catch handfuls of brightly colored beads and trinkets, and catch a glimpse of the year’s Mardi Gras majesties as they pass by atop the royal float.

Now, in its 37th year, the Krewe of Janus’s annual parade has become a long-standing tradition and is eagerly anticipated by locals and tourists alike. This year, however, a new krewe prepares to roll through the town as well, and for the first time, members of the community can let the good times roll two weekends in a row.

THE INAUGURAL KREWE DE RIVERE parade will roll February 8th, and though the organization is a brand-new addition to the area, King Tommy Sims and Queen Ginger Hubenthal Padgett are confident its presence will be positive for the area. Having two parades to look forward to, Tommy says, will be “just that much more fun,” and he hopes in time, the new krewe’s parade will become just as beloved as that of the Krewe of Janus.

Though he has never done anything quite like this before, Tommy, a Rayville native who works as the northeast regional manager of Louisiana’s Department of Veterans Affairs, says he is grateful to have been voted onto the Krewe de Riviere royal court. “I was very pleasantly surprised,” he says of hearing of his nomination and later election. “It’s an honor to be chosen to be a part of it, especially the inaugural parade.”

Learning she had been chosen as queen also came as a shock to Ginger. She said she is excited, however, to be a part of the organization’s first year of celebrations. “That’s kind of like history right there!” she says of being the inaugural queen.

A former counselor who currently spends her days working passionately in animal rescue, Ginger is eager to see what a second krewe does for Ouachita parish. Since the krewe is new, she is going with the flow, she says, but she is hoping the fruit of the Krewe de Riviere’s labor is success. “Being the first year, it’s probably going to be kind of small, but eventually, I hope it grows and brings in a lot more people to the community to see how much fun it is in the Monroe-West Monroe area,” she says. “I think in time, it could grow to be a really fun activity for people.”

When it comes to Monroe Mardi Gras, says Donna, two is better than one. “We’re hoping that they do well because I think there’s plenty of people in this community to do both,” Queen Janus XXXVII says of the Krewe de Riviere. “You can’t have too many parades or anything around here for us to enjoy.”

And with the celebrations both krewes have worked diligently to plan, enjoyment is certainly guaranteed.

The Krewe de Riviere kicks off their full day of celebrations with Mardi Gras Madness, held at Downtown Monroe’s Origin Bank RiverMarket. A children’s parade, complete with prizes for the top 3 mini floats, is first on the docket and will begin at 10:30 a.m. The cornhole tournament, Little Miss Mardi Gras pageant, and a costume contest for pets, children, and adults that follow are sure to make for a memorable afternoon. The event will also include live performances from Kirby Rambin and Pocket Kandy.

The full day of activities continues with the Krewe de Riviere’s Roaring ‘20s-themed parade, which begins its route near West Monroe High School before heading down North 7th and Mill Streets. The parade will roll across the Ouachita River and end near the Ouachita Parish Courthouse. Finally, the Krewe de Riviere will conclude the day at the Monroe Civic Center with a ball, where attendees will eat, drink, and dance the night away in their finest formal wear.

The Krewe of Janus keeps the party going just a week later, beginning with the annual children’s parade at Pecanland Mall. The town’s tiniest, dressed in their Mardi Gras best, begin their ride at the free family event at 10:00 a.m.

Later that morning, PAWS of Northeast Louisiana presents the 14th annual Krewe of PAWS pet parade. The area’s furry, feathered, or scaled friends will make their way down West Monroe’s Antique Alley beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Then, as the day draws to a close and evening is near, parade-goers ready themselves to yell “Throw Me Something, Mister!” as the 37th annual Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras parade makes its way through the streets. Themed “The Magic of Fairytales,” the big event starts in West Monroe on Natchitoches Street near the I-20 overpass before following Trenton Street across the river and turning onto Walnut and 3rd Streets. The Janus parade will then head down Louisville Avenue before concluding at Oliver Road.

Two is better than one, they say, and thanks to the hard work and dedication of Krewes de Riviere and Janus, the Twin Cities will experience that firsthand. After months of preparation, the organizations have planned full days of family-friendly fun, and one thing is certain: this year’s Mardi Gras is not to be missed.

For more detailed schedules of events, full parade route maps, or information on how to become involved in a krewe, visit www.kreweofjanusonline.com and www.krewederiviere.com.