Revelers dressed in costumes and reaching for beads thrown from floats will take to the streets when Carnival season reaches its peak, their celebration tinged with grief after two paradegoers were hit and killed by floats in the run-up to Fat Tuesday.
Carnival season began Jan. 6 and ends Fat Tuesday after weeks of Mardi Gras parades, balls and merriment. This season's festivities have been marred by the deaths of the two people killed at separate parades in recent days.
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Revelers dressed in costumes and reaching for beads thrown from floats will take to the streets when Carnival season reaches its peak, their celebration tinged with grief after two paradegoers were hit and killed by floats in the run-up to Fat Tuesday.
Then on Saturday night during the Endymion parade — one of the biggest and glitziest parades every year — a man out watching on Canal Street was hit and killed by a float, also a tandem. He was identified as Joseph Sampson, 58, of New Orleans.
The festivities get an early start on Fat Tuesday.
Every year at midnight police ride on horseback to ceremonially “clear” the street although partying continues long past that. Then comes Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent and a time for many Christians to fast and reflect ahead of Easter.
Flambeaux, a group who recreate how night parades were lit up with torches before electricity, walk in front of the float of actor Bryan Cranston as he acts as the celebrity monarch of the Krewe of Orpheus along the Uptown parade route during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
Actor Bryan Cranston waves beads as he acts as the celebrity monarch of the Krewe of Orpheus along the Uptown parade route during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
Actor Bryan Cranston takes a picture with a member of the Marine Corps band as he acts as the celebrity monarch of the Krewe of Orpheus along the Uptown parade route during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
Honorary Muse actress Jennifer Coolidge throws beads from The Shoe float along with over one thousand members of the Krewe of Muses as it celebrates its 20th year with 26 floats on the uptown route with the theme '2020 Visions-NostradaMuse Sees All' in New Orleans, La. Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. Featured floats are: The shoe, the Sirens, the Bathtub, Muses Ducks and the Goddessy float. (Max BechererThe Advocate via AP)
The large float "Smokey Mary," parades in the the Krewe of Orpheus along the Uptown parade route during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
Float riders throw beads from a float with the theme "Beastly Kingdoms," in the Krewe of Orpheus parade on Napoleon Ave. during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
People cry out for beads from floats in the Krewe of Orpheus parade on Napoleon Ave. during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
From left, Rex King of Carnival, Storey Charbonnet, Zulu President Elroy James and Mayor LaToya Cantrell press the plunger to start Mardi Gras at the Riverwalk's Spanish Plaza on Lundi Gras in New Orleans on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (Max BechererThe Advocate via AP)
Last Wednesday as thousands of people gathered to watch the all-female Krewe of Nyx parade, a woman was killed after being struck by a float. Witnesses told news outlets that Geraldine Carmouche, 58, of New Orleans tried to cross between two parts of a tandem float and tripped over a hitch connecting the sections. Tandem floats are multiple floats pulled by one tractor.
Actor Charlie Day and his wife actress Mary Elizabeth Ellis throw beads in the Krewe of Orpheus along the Uptown parade route during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
Then on Saturday night during the Endymion parade — one of the biggest and glitziest parades every year — a man out watching on Canal Street was hit and killed by a float, also a tandem. He was identified as Joseph Sampson, 58, of New Orleans.
Following the deaths, the city announced a ban on tandem floats for the rest of the season. Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said Monday said he's not blaming the parade groups or tandem floats for the deaths. But, he stood by his decision to bar the multipart floats for the last few days of the parade season. He said representatives from parade krewes, police and city officials will meet this week or next to discuss safety issues surrounding the parades.
Mardi Gras season is usually a time of frivolity and fun as thousands of people swarm into the streets of New Orleans and other cities and towns in southern Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. Theirs is an annual tradition of watching parades, partyiing and hanging out with family and friends.
Bacchus rolls through during a parade in the run-up to Fat Tuesday finale in Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. This year's theme was "Bacchus's Wild, Wild West" and it was led by 1,600 riders. Riding as special guests were the Little League World Series Champs from River Ridge. (Chris GrangerThe Times-PicayuneThe New Orleans Advocate)
The festivities get an early start on Fat Tuesday.
Families gather to watch the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club parade on the main route down St. Charles Avenue, followed by the Rex Parade and then two more parades. In the French Quarter, people from all walks of life dress up in elaborate costumes and take to the streets to see and be seen.
Once the parades are over the action shifts to the French Quarter's more raucous Bourbon Street.
Float riders throw beads from a float with the theme "Beastly Kingdoms," in the Krewe of Orpheus parade on Napoleon Ave. during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
Every year at midnight police ride on horseback to ceremonially “clear” the street although partying continues long past that. Then comes Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent and a time for many Christians to fast and reflect ahead of Easter.
The 610 Stompers, a dancing group who claim to be ordinary men with extraordinary moves, dance on Napoleon Ave. in the Krewe of Orpheus parade during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
Flambeaux, a group who recreate how night parades were lit up with torches before electricity, walk in front of the float of actor Bryan Cranston as he acts as the celebrity monarch of the Krewe of Orpheus along the Uptown parade route during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
Actor Bryan Cranston waves beads as he acts as the celebrity monarch of the Krewe of Orpheus along the Uptown parade route during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
Actor Bryan Cranston takes a picture with a member of the Marine Corps band as he acts as the celebrity monarch of the Krewe of Orpheus along the Uptown parade route during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
Honorary Muse actress Jennifer Coolidge throws beads from The Shoe float along with over one thousand members of the Krewe of Muses as it celebrates its 20th year with 26 floats on the uptown route with the theme '2020 Visions-NostradaMuse Sees All' in New Orleans, La. Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. Featured floats are: The shoe, the Sirens, the Bathtub, Muses Ducks and the Goddessy float. (Max BechererThe Advocate via AP)
The large float "Smokey Mary," parades in the the Krewe of Orpheus along the Uptown parade route during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
Float riders throw beads from a float with the theme "Beastly Kingdoms," in the Krewe of Orpheus parade on Napoleon Ave. during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
People cry out for beads from floats in the Krewe of Orpheus parade on Napoleon Ave. during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (AP PhotoMatthew Hinton)
From left, Rex King of Carnival, Storey Charbonnet, Zulu President Elroy James and Mayor LaToya Cantrell press the plunger to start Mardi Gras at the Riverwalk's Spanish Plaza on Lundi Gras in New Orleans on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. (Max BechererThe Advocate via AP)