Happy Mardi Gras, my friends! In the spirit of celebration, I wanted to share a heartwarming tradition born in New Orleans during the challenging times of Covid-19. When traditional Mardi Gras festivities were put on hold, the resilient people of New Orleans found a creative way to keep the joy alive: Mardi Gras house floats.
It all began with the Krewe of Red Beans, a group known for their community spirit. During the pandemic, they launched “Feed the Front Line NOLA,” raising over $1 million to support local restaurants and provide meals for healthcare workers. As Mardi Gras approached, they shifted their focus to supporting artists and craftsmen who would normally be preparing for parades.
Inspired by artist Caroline Thomas, the “Hire a Mardi Gras Artist” project was born. Through donations and a lottery system, the Krewe raised funds to transform houses into vibrant Mardi Gras floats. Even as traditional parades returned, the tradition of house floats continued to thrive, with Stronghold Studios now joining the effort.
Stronghold Studios is a locally owned and operated art and fabrication studio based in Mid City, New Orleans, Louisiana so House Floats is just an extension of what they already do. As part of their involvement Stronghold invited all Louisiana residents with ‘house floats’ to submit their creations for the 2024 House Float Map
During my recent visit home to New Orleans, I used that map to take a self-guided tour to discover these enchanting Mardi Gras float houses. Here are some of my favorites from the vibrant streets of the Big Easy. Happy Mardi Gras!”
You know I couldn’t miss the dachshunds!
I'd love to hear what you think!