Mardi Gras Mania

BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE

Mardi Gras is synonymous with Louisiana culture, and the Twin Cities honor the Carnival season with two successive parades. The Krewe de Riviere parade runs Saturday, February 8th, and the Krewe of Janus parade kicks off on Saturday, February 15th. The festivities are family-friendly and provide tons of economic activity for Monroe and West Monroe. City of West Monroe Main St. Director Adrienne LaFrance insists the entire Mardi Gras season is important to West Monroe Downtown, as many of the shops and restaurants feature king cake-inspired creations – think cakes, cocktails, and tea. Downtown West Monroe is the headquarters for king cakes. Caster & Chicory on Natchitoches St. offers multiple flavors and sells out of king cakes daily, so line up early. In addition to king cakes, CAKE on Trenton St. sells Mardi Gras macarons and cakies. Back Alley Market on Commerce St. also serves up freshly baked king cakes. Alley Park in West Monroe, on the corner of Trenton and Natchitoches, is the center for all day Mardi Gras fun on February 15th, hosting the PAWS Pet Parade at 1PM and the Jester Jog Color 5K at 2:30 PM. The Krewe of Janus parade rolls at 6PM that evening and goes right through the heart of Downtown West Monroe. 

Krewe of Janus
The Twin Cities Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras organization is the longest-serving krewe in Monroe/West Monroe, dating back to October 1983. Initially part of the Monroe Jaycees, the Krewe is responsible for introducing the Mardi Gras festivities to the Monroe/West Monroe region. That first year, with only a few months to plan the parade, the Krewe rented floats and were highly surprised by the large crowds gathered on 18th St. and Desiard. Krewe of Janus Kings and Queens are nominated and voted on within the organization. The first King Creighton Chandler and Queen Kay LaFrance-Knight kicked off the 1984 festivities, visiting schools, nursing homes, and community events, a tradition continued by successive Janus Kings and Queens in years since. The Krewe supports multiple philanthropic initiatives throughout the year. This year’s Krewe of Janus Captains are Alan Barth, Karen McCaa, and Steve Turner. 

Now in its 42nd year, the Krewe of Janus will kick off its traditional New Orleans-style parade, throwing trinkets to revelers along the streets. The theme is Janus Flies to the Moon. Visitors can expect space travel characters and decor with an appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdales. The parade route begins in West Monroe on New Natchitoches and 8th St., extends toward Trenton St., and goes through Downtown West Monroe to the Lea Joyner Bridge. Then in Monroe, the parade takes a right on Walnut, a left on Washington, a left on 3rd St, then onto Louisville, and finally ending on Oliver Road. Though the Janus parade tries to involve Monroe as much as possible, the route is limited due to passable roads for safety. The Janus parade is recognized by Macaroni KID as one of the top family attractions in the U.S. The Krewe’s black tie grand ball will be held February 1st at Bayou Pointe Event Center on the ULM campus. Tickets can be purchased at kreweofjanus.com. 

This year’s Krewe of Janus King Robert McCaa and Queen Kathie Spradling both hail from Union Parish, attend the same church, and live only 5 miles apart. McCaa insists the honor is “a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Robert’s wife Karen spent two months making his costume, as Kathie did with her Queen costume. Kathie also made the trains for both of them. Robert has been involved with the Krewe of Janus for 6 years, making floats with charter member and Captain Steve Turner, King of Janus 25. The Krewe works on floats throughout the year making sure each Krewe of Janus parade supersedes the one prior. 

Krewe de Riviere
The Twin Cities Krewe de Riviere formed in 2019 by a group of local volunteers with the first parade running in 2020. With an emphasis on the arts, Krewe de Riviere’s philanthropic focus is bringing music education to afterschool youth. The Krewe recently purchased the Holsum Bakery in Downtown Monroe and plans to dedicate the front portion of the building to music and arts programs for kids. Inspired by The Roots of Music in New Orleans, Krewe de Riviere recognizes the importance of music and music education to the people and culture of Louisiana and wants our local youth to engage in the arts in a safe environment. The Krewe aims to get the community more involved in these efforts for the betterment of everyone. 

As the second Krewe established in the Monroe/West Monroe area, Krewe de Riviere’s motto is “Two parades is better than one.” The Riviere parade runs first, on February 8th, and begins earlier at 5PM. The parade route begins at West Monroe High School, proceeds down Stella/Mill and over the Louisville bridge, continuing down Louisville Ave. to Oliver Road. The Krewe wants the public to go home with tons of throws (plush and light-up toys) and dance to the music of the Grambling State University band. Riviere’s theme this year is Out of This World – think aliens, Star Wars characters, Men in Black, and the Jetsons. Riviere volunteer Heather Moore loves hearing the crowd yell, “Throw me something!” Riviere hosted its Mardi Gras ball on January 18th at Bayou Pointe Event Center. 

The Krewe de Riviere 2025 King is Kris Kelley, Executive Director of WMWO Chamber of Commerce, and the Queen is Kiama Johnson. The Krewe accepts community nominations for Riviere King and Queen, as nominees do not have to be part of the Krewe de Riviere. After initial interviews, the community votes via social media. On Kris Kelley, Heather Moore insists, “King Kris is great for our community, always smiling and willing to help.” Queen Kiama Johnson has been overwhelmed with the recognition, as her community efforts are pure in nature. Queen Kiama dives in to help where help is needed. As a member of the Luna Chicks and vice president of NELA Pride, Queen Kiama likes being busy and supporting causes important to her community. Krewe de Riviere and Krewe of Janus support one another, as more events in Monroe and West Monroe mean more fun for the community. 

Bring the family and join the Mardi Gras festivities in February. Prior to the parade, support the local businesses in Monroe and West Monroe, as the economic impact is vital for the continued success of our community. The Krewe de Riviere parade begins at 5PM on Saturday, February 8th, and the Krewe of Janus parade begins at 6PM on Saturday, February 15th.