A benefit that isn’t obvious, they offered business to the small companies that support the parade in the construction of the floats. There are painters and carpenters who depend on Mardi Gras for a major part of their business. Covid has shut down a lot of work in remodeling, so the lack of the Mardi Gras business would but the little guys on the edge of shutting down.

those houses in the photos amazing. or rather, the fact that people adapted and put that much of themselves into their “house floats” is heart-warming.

A lot of time, money, and creativity involved in those houses. Local people really miss the parades. Working with your Krewe to build a float is like a local sports team – it’s more about the community than winning or losing.

Nothing wrong with ice… as long as it’s in a glass with some alcohol involved. When it’s coating the road with snow on top, that’s a cold, wet time for traffic cops. [Been there, done that]