SLIDELL, La. — The first major Northshore parade of the season is almost here, and it will be the Krewe of Titans’ biggest yet.
“17 marching bands, 23 floats,” Krewe President Toni Gebbia described, “dance groups from around Slidell and surrounding areas.”
And beyond. For the first time, New Orleans’ iconic Marching 100 band from St. Augustine High School will march in Krewe of Titans. It will be their first Northshore parade in years.
The Krewe hired the company Mardi Gras Decorations to make its floats. Manager Rachel Elsensohn said it takes her crew a full year, sometimes longer, to prepare for Carnival season. “We make a sketch, then we white all the floats out, then we paint them,” she said. “We paint like five at a time.”
The theme of this year’s parade is “It Takes Two.” Elsensohn explained that it’s based on “things that go together,” gesturing to floats featuring Snoopy and Woodstock, Elvis and Priscilla Presley, wine and cheese, and crawfish and beer.
The Krewe’s signature throw this year is a Titans-branded crawfish tray. There will also be medallions, tall koozies, and the Krewe’s “infamous” foam footballs.
This year has had its challenges for the krewe. Gebbia explained that the growing popularity of Mardi Gras parades, both on the Northshore and in the metropolitan area, has made it harder to find Carnival supplies. “We’ve had to search for floats on our date, we’ve had to change our date,” she said.
But everything worked out and Gebbia says the parade will be splashier than ever. “We’re excited,” she added.
The Krewe of Titans parade rolls Friday, February 3rd at 6:30 p.m.
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