By Lucia Gonzalez
Photo by Lucia Gonzalez
Every year during Mardi Gras, thousands of people crowd the streets of New Orleans to watch colorful parades roll by. Out of all the parades, one that many people especially look forward to is the Krewe of Muses. Known for its lively energy, creative floats, and famous decorated high-heel shoe throws, Muses has earned its spot as a true fan favorite. This parade is more than just a part of Mardi Gras. It’s an experience that people remember long after the season ends.
The Krewe of Muses was founded in 2000 as an all-female Mardi Gras krewe. Their parade takes place on the Thursday night before Mardi Gras, which makes it even more thrilling because it kicks off the six days of non-stop reveling the city celebrates for the end of Carnival. One of the biggest reasons the Muses parade is so popular is the high-heel shoes that the riders throw to the crowd. These shoes are hand decorated and can take hours to make. Each one is unique, and catching one is considered a major Mardi Gras achievement. Many parade goers spend years trying to catch a Muses shoe, and getting one feels like winning a trophy.
Students at school say the energy of the parade is what makes it so special.
Naomi Gugel, a 9th grader, said, “Muses is my favorite parade because everyone gets really excited, especially about the shoes. It just feels more fun than some of the other parades.”
The crowd is usually loud, cheerful, and full of anticipation, which makes the whole experience feel like a giant celebration.
Other students agree that Muses stands out compared to the many other Mardi Gras parades.
Stella Gorman, also a 9th grader, said, “I like Muses because the floats are cool, and the crowd is always loud and happy. It’s one of the parades people actually talk about at school.”
For a parade to be a topic of conversation among students after Mardi Gras shows how much of an impression it leaves.
“Muses has a lot of personality,” ? Mable Marshall said. “Students connect with it because it’s creative and feels more modern than some traditional parades,” which makes sense because it’s only been around 26 years versus 150 for some of the parades.
“The throws at Muses and Iris are best,” Ms. Crockett said. “They’re things you can actually use a lot of the time, like wooden spoons to cook with or socks or hair clips.”
The combination of tradition and modern creativity in the design of its floats and throws makes the Muses parade feel fresh while still being part of the city’s long Mardi Gras history.
