Four parades you shouldn’t miss this Carnival season

Zulu
8 a.m. Feb. 16

Talk about Mardi Gras with any veteran parade attendee, and Zulu is destined to come up. It’s the most famous Mardi Gras day parade, beginning its route before many New Orleanians have recovered from the night before. But its early start time is part of its allure; making the beginning of Zulu proves you have real Mardi Gras dedication. Another trademark of Zulu is the famous coconut throws. Though they used to throw whole ones, the coconuts of today are either plastic or emptied nuts lavishly decorated and themed. Wondering what you’re going to do with a coconut after you get home, the hangover wears off and you realize that it’s nothing more than a painted glitter globe? Hold it and cherish it; Zulu nuts are without a doubt the most sought-after Mardi Gras souvenir.

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Rex
10 a.m. Feb. 16

Think of Rex as the granddaddy of New Orleans parades. Established in 1872, this marching Krewe has helped raise the bar for all things Mardi Gras. Rex’s traditional purple, green and gold have become the classic colors of Carnival; the Krewe even started the tradition of throwing doubloons. On Mardi Gras Day, the New Orleans mayor — in what is considered the first and most important order of business of his new term — hands over the keys to the city to Rex himself. Make sure you catch this parade to witness history roll down St. Charles Avenue. Also be on the lookout for their iconic float, the Boeuf Gras, which depicts a cow as a symbol of Lent’s fast.

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Muses
6:15 p.m Feb. 11

Muses means a lot of glitter, a lot of mystique and a lot of high-heeled shoes. Named for the daughters of Zeus, this is New Orleans’ only all-female night parade. With its sought after shoe throws and glamour, Muses has became a city favorite. Though the Krewe has only been parading since 2000, they’ve established themselves as one of the most generous and beautiful gangs. If their femininity wasn’t apparent enough in the name, the queen of the parade arrives in a shoe float, a 17-foot high, 20-foot long pump, covered in fiber optic lights that rapidly change colors. Embrace your inner female, dress in drag, wear a wig — do whatever it takes to catch a famous shoe from the ladies of Muses.

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Le Krewe D’Etat
6 p.m. Feb. 12

If you missed Krewe du Vieux and regret depriving yourself of the awesome sight of drunken satire and dancing in the streets, do not despair. Krewe D’Etat is another terribly witty show; the name is even a pun on the phrase “coup d’etat.” In a blatant display of mockery of another Krewe’s traditions, this parade doesn’t have a monarch; instead there is a “dictator” whose identity is never revealed to the crowds. Their throws are unusual, their float designs revolutionary and their message is full of biting sarcasm and humor.

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Can’t make it to the parades? Here are some alternatives — > CLICK HERE!