The Fine Art of Costuming in the Krewe of St. Anne

In New Orleans, membership in most parade Krewes is a major commitment, stiff dues and an entrenched hierarchy provides order to their acts. The krewe known as Societe de Ste. Anne, takes the extreme opposite view and their parade is an explosion of color and creativity open to anyone who wants to take part. 

​The St. Anne parade started 50 years, in 1969, at the height of the counter-culture movement. Residents of Bywater and Marigney wanted to protest a city ordinance to ban walking parades in the French Quarter and they gathered their creative friends to make their best costumes and march anyway.  The tradition took off. 

This year, a band of roving skeletons on foot and bicycle beat their drums and called out to us as they passed our house on Burgundy St. well before 8am. “Happy Mardi Gras!” they greeted to roust neighbors out of bed. Time to don your costume and walk to the rendezvous points where friends meet to admire their costumes, drink Bloody Marys, beer or coffee,  and get ready to march. 

By 9 am, hundreds of people, dressed in the most imaginative costumes, from the traditional Cajun dress that is worn mostly in rural areas to the male peacocks who struck their stuff every year.
 
The parade kicked off with a group dressed in gold, walking to the brass band sounds of the Storyville Stompers.  A float and festoons of ribbons wove in and out as they walked.
 
More and more people joined the flow of celebrants as they walked through the Marigney district and by the time they reached the French Quarter, the streets were overflowing with color and good cheer.

Get a taste of the fun and see some of the most colorful costumes by clicking on the slideshow below.