Dear Argus,
It was a glorious day for Mardi Gras! Perhaps a tad hot, but we’ll take it over rain. Hard to complain when you’re in the midst of celebrating such a joyous day!
But… if I can complain… about something, for just a moment… it would have to be the start time. I’m not sure why the parade started two hours later than it normally does. Our group heard a couple of different reasons, from the need to share police officers from other routes, to the shorter truck parades making Mardi Gras end too quickly last year. Either way, the result of a later start time meant a much, much later end time. Whether or not this was on purpose, our group unanimously agreed: it was way too late for us.
Our family stands on Bonnabel, and the parade is usually past us and we’re packing up to head home by the time the first float even reached us this year. I know some people standing at the beginning of the parade were happy with the later time, but for those of us at the end, it felt, well, endless.
We waited and waited. And waited. We tried to keep the spirits high, but that meant we also had to keep the kids hydrated and sunblocked and entertained. We tried to explain it would be a long day of waiting, and we would have to keep being patient, but that was hard even for us adults to remember.
By the time the parade finally reached us, we were pretty done. Even those riding in the parade mentioned what an incredibly long day it was for them. We had used up a lot of our Mardi Gras energy. Of course, we powered through and made all the memories, but I’m not gonna lie: it was harder this year.
Obviously, a late Mardi Gras is better than no Mardi Gras at all. I’m not sure who makes the decisions, but if anyone out there is reading this, the people at the end of the parade are hoping for a return to the 10:00am start time. Heck, I think we’d even split the difference with an 11:00am start!
Regardless, we’ll be out there year after year, for 10:00am or for 12:00pm, reveling in the kind of magic only this city can provide. But I know, as a mom on the parade route, I’ll be hoping for that magic earlier in the day.
Wow. It sounds like you people have to pony up some money and join a krewe! Do you know how much money and work it takes to put on a parade??? Maybe the Argus riders wanted to wake up later to give you free beads. Nobody forces anyone to go or stay. Free event!
Just out of curiosity, when the parade goers, parade marchers, and parade rider all feel that it was a bit long, wouldn’t you tend to think maybe it was a little long from all perspectives? Can you help me understand why it’s wrong to voice this opinion from your perspective?
Insert crying baby meme.
Waaahhhhhhhhh. So late! For my free plastic junk and chance to litter half of Jefferson Parish!
This “article” substantiates the Most Entitled Brats nickname used by the rest of New Orleans to describe your advertising…ehrr… journalistic outpost.
I have been very disappointed over the last few years of Metairie Mardi Gras day. I will take anything over New Orleans, but being home by 2 or 3 was a bit lack luster. Our krewe shows up and shows out! Grills, boiling pot, etc. Last year, we weren’t even finished cooking before the street cleaners passed us. I hope that it stays this way and lasts longer!
So I take it that you have never gone to a night parade where you have been waiting at your spot for most of the day, keeping kids entertained, fed, hydrated, and sunblocked. Be grateful you have this opportunity!! You are not paying a penny for any of it!
Kenner. That is all
I liked the 10 am time much better because with the later time, being on the north side of vets meant if you looked up (to catch throws) you were blinded by the sun. That normally only happened for the last truck parade.
Imagine being on a tractor pulling a float. Roll a couple hundred feet then stopping for 5-10 minutes. This went on for the entire route. Not Argus fault. Do not know who did this but this was not a fun parade.
The later start time is kind of nice, if it starts on time, and are no hiccups along the way, such as floats breaking down, accidents, or drunks causing police to intervene. We caught the parade further down on veterans, closer to bonnabel, it was 3 p.m. before the first Argus float came our way. A little late for us, being that we usually caught it on Severn. All ad all a good day, but was rather long. I agree, an 11 a.m. start would be great. Last few years gave up Metairie parades and was spending Mardi Gras in the city, nothing like the locals Street parades in the marine. But crime has us staying closer to home and less chance of being car jacked…weigh your options.
Thanks for the freebie beads to all the parade krewes.