One of the lovely ladies in the Oshun Parade in New Orleans

Friday night saw the Mardi Gras season’s first parades in New Orleans.  First the Oshun flooded the street with marching bands, dancers, and floats with lovely ladies and handsome gents in costumes.

Queen Cleopatra pauses at Gallier Hall for a toast

In the wake of the Oshun Parade, Queen Cleopatra and her Krewe sailed through the streets spreading Mardi Gras cheer, candy, beads, and many other goodies to the happy throng.

Commission President Jacqueline Brechtel-Clarkson toasts the Krewe Royalty

City Commission President Jacqueling Brechtel-Clarkson was on hand to toast the regal krewe members as they past.

Members of the Pontchartrain Krewe rolling down Canal

Saturday saw the krewes of Pontchartrain, Moctaw, and Freret along the uptown route and later the Star Wars themed Krewe of Chewbacchus held a geekfest of a parade a short distance away.

The Death Bar and Tie Fighters at the Chewbacchus Parade

The Chewbacchus parade was a much less formal affair with less Pomp and Circumstance and was more of a Star Wars and Science Fiction Mardi Gras party on the street, complete with a Death Star, or rather Death Bar (and Tie Fighters to protect its precious contents!) as it held the Chewbacchus Krewe’s beer and liquor to keep them fuel until they got to the Chewbacchanal Ball.

Standing room only at the Chewbacchanal

The Chewbacchanal was standing room only with costumed folks from a wide variety of Science Fiction and Fantasy worlds.

The line waiting to visit Dr. Poo in the Turdis

And, of course, there was a line to use the Turdis for those who needed to have a visit with Dr. Poo.

Some folks were more prepared to deal with the rain than others

Sunday, was a cool, rainy, dreary day and the parades were delayed with that and other problems, but the Krewes and bands marched on with determination.

Lovely ladies having a merry Mardi Gras

For those who came and stayed for Sunday’s parades there was an over abundance of throws and nobody went home empty handed for lack of goodies.

More Mardi Gras photos can be found in the Mardi Gras Memories 2014 photo gallery.

More about John Collins

Weird AKA John Collins

John N. Collins is a writer, photographer, game & coloring book designer and a bad dancer.

Any resemblance to the King John character is merely a coincidence.

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