The Krewe du Vieux is a New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe more fully known as the Krewe du Vieux Carré.
History and formation The parade begins in the Marigny and slowly meanders its way through the Vieux Carre (a term for the city's French Quarter). It is one of the earliest parades of the New Orleans Carnival calendar, and is noted for wild satirical and adult themes, as well as for showcasing a large number of New Orleans' best brass bands.
The Krewe du Vieux was established in 1987 as a replacement of the Krewe of Clones, which flopped after the city tried to make it more respectable for visitors who stayed on in the city after the 1986 Super Bowl. The Krewe de Vieux is actually an amalgamation of several smaller semi-independent krewes (or sub-krewes) that pool their resources together for parade permits and other expenses and obligations. Several of the sub-krewes predate the Krewe du Vieux, originating as walking clubs or as sub-krewes of the defunct Krewe of Clones in the 1970s and early 1980s. The history behind the parade states that the ruling class of New Orleans wagered if they gave the common people one day a year to go crazy and mock the elites then the satiated masses would allow them to maintain control for the remainder of the year. Participation in the parade is open to anyone who is part of a sub-affiliated krewe in good standing.
Parade The Krewe du Vieux is perhaps simultaneously the most individualistic and the most traditional of all New Orleans parading krewes. It has no large tractor-pulled floats like the larger krewes, using only old-style, small, human-drawn or mule-drawn floats interspersed with marchers on foot. Krewe du Vieux has only live music, hiring some of the city's best brass bands to march with them. The floats are handmade and decorated by members of the respective sub-krewes, often with themes satirizing local politics and customs, sometimes of a bawdy nature — in such aspects arguably closer to early-19th-century Carnival traditions than any other Krewe currently parading. The Krewe du Vieux is the only Krewe still allowed to parade through the French Quarter (other than some small walking Krewes on Mardi Gras Day); krewes with larger floats have been prohibited in the narrow streets of the old town since the 1970s. The parade is noted for its sophisticated floats, witty debauchery, open mockery of topical municipal campaigns, and wildly entertaining levels of tastelessness.
Parade theme Krewe du Vieux typically selects a parade theme pulling from ideas of political satire, sexuality, and local culture.
Year Theme Royalty 2026 Krewe du Vieux Saves the Wet Glands Franziska Trautmann 2025 Krewe du Vieux is Revolting Little Freddie King 2024 Artificial Ignorance Isaac Toups 2023 Krewe du Vieux Beats Off Jan Ramsey 2022 Vaxxed & Confused Dr. Jennifer Avegno 2021 Krewe du Vieux Has No Taste Those Who Care (Healthcare providers, teachers, etc. who provide care during the pandemic) 2020 Erection 2020 BB St. Roman 2019 City of Yes, Yes, oh God Yes!! Walter "Wolfman" Washington 2018 Bienville's Wet Dream Richard Campanella 2017 Crass Menagerie Bunny Matthews 2016 XXX Big Freedia 2015 Krewe du Vieux Begs for Change Dr. James Aiken 2014 Where the Vile Things Are John Barry 2013 Krewe du Vieux Comes Early Bethany Bultman 2012 Crimes Against Nature Deon Haywood 2011 25 Years Wasted Don Marshall 2010 Fired Up Dr. John 2009 Krewe du Vieux's Stimulus Package Frankie Ford 2008 Magical Misery Tour Ronald Lewis 2007 Habitat for Insanity Chris Rose 2006 C'est Levee Walter "Mr. Bill" Williams 2005 What Would Krewe du Vieux Do? Al "Carnival Time" Johnson 2004 The Quest for Immorality Coleen Salley 2003 Off the Record Uncle Lionel Batiste 2002 Depraved New World Andrei Codrescu 2001 2001: A Space Fallacy Ernie K-Doe 2000 da idiots & da oddities Walt Handlesman 1999 Urban Myths Ray “Plaine” Kern 1998 Souled Down the River Irma Thomas with Grand Duchesses Marcia Ball and Tracy Nelson 1997 Krewe du Vieux Goes Deep Buddy Diliberto 1996 Krewe du Vieux Achieves "Decade-ence" Ronnie Virgets 1995 Unnaturally New Orleans GiO 1994 The Ballot of New Orleans Danny Barker 1993 Posthumorously Yours Henri Schindler 1992 Krewe du Vieux Rights the News Angus Lind 1991 Lost Conventions Becky Allen and Ricky Graham 1990 Krewe du Vieux Smells Something Fishy Al Scramuzza 1989 Krewe du Vieux Predicts Lois Simbach 1988 Krewe du Vieux Eats Out Chef Paul Prudhomme 1987 Odd Couples Charmaine Neville
Kings and Queens of the Krewe du Vieux take their participation very seriously. Henri Schindler, who rode as King Sarcophagus I in 1993, showcased how far some "royal members" go in their celebration. Schindler designed his float and gathered an extensive court of royals as his leading entourage. While riding along the parade route, he stopped in front of the Boston Club--a traditional stop for toasting the Kings of Carnival--to lay a funeral wreath.
References
External links KreweDuVieux.org