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 Walking
clubs in New Orleans go back to the beginnings of the celebrations on
these shores (after all, what were the landings of Iberville and
Bienville but marching krewes in search of a place to celebrate?)
It can be argued that all Mardi Gras parading organizations began life
as marching clubs of one form or another. Walking Clubs offer
their own joys, providing a much more intimate and interactive Carnival
atmosphere that is truer to the spirit and styles that our forbears so
adored.
In recent years, Walking Clubs have undergone a surge of popularity
that has earned them a faithful cadre of professional photographers and
cinematographers. So, when you attend the Society of St. Ann or
the Jefferson City Buzzards, smile pretty; Your face could end up
in newspapers and magazines across the world!
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Jefferson City Buzzards
The venerated grandfather of all the
Walking Clubs formed in 1890, and features an all-male membership who
regularly dress as women for their parade. Generous with their
throws and their informalities, watch for the Buzzards to pull one of
their classic pranks: lying on their backs in the street and
quivvering their arms and legs in the air like dying cockroaches in
front of traffic, yelling "whoooops!"
The Jefferson City Buzzards begin marching around 6:45am at Audubon
Park and Laurel St. Uptown. They head down Tchoupitoulas to
Aragella, then to Magazine, to St. Charles Avenue down to Canal St.,
preceding Rex. From there, they go to Rampart St. then U-turn to
end up at Magazine and Poydras streets.
Look for the club's emblem doubloons, always a collectible item.
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The Garden District Club - Formed in 1909, little is yet known about this, the most secretive of all the walking clubs.
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The Corner Carnival Club - Formed
in 1918, this walking club begins at 7am on Mardi Gras morning on the
corner of Second and Annunciation Streets uptown. From there, the
route is up to the fates, which take them on a crooked route through
the neighborhood streets, winding up again at Second and
Annunciation.
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Lyons Carnival Club - Formed
in 1946 by a group of Uptown New Orleaneans after World War II, this
walking club makes around 10 different stops on their marathon march,
which begins at 7am at Annunciation and Lyons streets, makes its way
down Annunciation to Jefferson, to Magazine, to Napoleon and onto St.
Charles and into the French Quarter to their final destination, Molly's
on the Market on Rue Decatur.
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Pete Fountain's Half-Fast Walking Club
The self-proclaimed "Prince of Mardi
Gras", musician Pete Fountain began his march through the Vieux
Carré in 1961 as he does now, at Commander's Palace. The
march begins promptly at 7:45am and proceeds down St. Charles to Canal
St., then into the Lower Vieux Carré to end up at the Hilton
Riverside. Celebrities frequently join Pete, who leads the
parade, one of the favorites of the season. Club medallion beads and doubloons are always a great catch.
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The Society of St. Ann
The Society, or the St. Ann Revelers as
they are sometimes called, began marching in the late 1960's, though it
is possible they began marching far earlier. Named for the mother
of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the Society has gained a reputation for its amazing costumes (its
members are culled from leaders and innovators in the performing and
fine arts). Long one of the best-kept secrets in local Mardi
Gras, the St. Ann Revelers have earned an international following with
photographers and afficianados. The group is the subject of the
documentary film "Cutting Loose". Mardi Gras morning, the march
begins around 8:30am at Bud Ripp's bar and proceeds up Royal Street
through the Bywater, into the Faubourg Marigny and then into the Vieux
Carré
to Canal St. where the group salutes Rex, King of Carnival. After
Rex's passing, the Society makes its way to the Moonwalk on the
Mississippi to perform a solemn ritual. Any Society members who
have passed away have their ashes carried through the streets once
more, then scattered into the river in a ceremony called "cutting
loose". It is one of the most beautiful and meaningful moments in
Mardi Gras.
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The Krewe of Barkus
The
oldest of the animal krewes (there
is a Krewe of Endymeow and the Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws in
Mandeville), formed in 1993 by members of the Margaret Orr Fan Club and
sponsored by Wood Enterprises. Royalty matriculates through the
ranks, taking at least two or three years to achieve the rights of
regency. They generally
parade the first weekend of Carnival activities. Their
colourful parade of animals, owners, miniature floats, and innovative
costumes makes this processional a highlight of the Vieux Carre's event
schedule. Definitely one parade to bring the camera! The
krewe also warns that cats, while welcome, will not be provided with
security.
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Mondo Kayo - Formed
in 1983, this walking club is paradoxically loud and
publicity-shy. Based upon the love of Caribbean, South America,
and Africa-based music styles, the group indulges in what they call
"Third World cool", blasting their music at top-levels for all the city
to enjoy. They consider New Orleans to be the northernmost Banana
Republic. Their procession begins around 7:45am at Third and
Magazine streets, going to St. Charles Avenue to Canal Street, crossing
Rampart Steet and proceeding through the French Quarter into the
Marigny, disbanding at Café Brazil.
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KOE
Founded in 1998, this
krewe led the way into the new millenium by being the first
'cyberkrewe', formed entirely on the Internet and comprised of 100
members from around the globe. Membership is open to everyone.
The group traditionally meets at the
Mississippi River Bottom Bar at 515 Rue St. Philip in the Vieux
Carré
on Lundi Gras at 1pm to organize their march. Then at 10:15am on
Mardi
Gras, they take to the streets. Named for and themed after an
iconoclastic 20th century entertainer, they present a great parade for photographers of
all kinds. Look for wooden doubloons and the extremely
collectible medallion beads, a rarity for walking
krewes!
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Krewe of Switzerland
A
small but devoted group of revelers
who founded their walking krewe on Valentine's Day 1999 (also known as
the Krewe of Hearts), the Swiss have some unusual traditions that have
already become well-known in Mardi Gras circles, including their
medallion beads and the Swiss Vampire
buttons. The Krewe of Switzerland's royalty are the Earl and
Earlette. They can be found throughout the French Quarter,
beginning by joining in with the Krewe of Elvis on Lundi Gras.
And good news...they like to throw Swiss chocolates! (no word on
when they will start throwing clocks!)
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