---
title: "Happy Mardi Gras!"
categories:
- personal
content-tags:
- kreweoffreret
- nola
- mardigras
- travel
---

_I'll update this post with photos eventually_

To my continued surprise, Shannon has been as enthusiastic about Mardi Gras in New Orleans as my father was. I believe we'll be returning most years.

Our second one together was a big one. Having been [coronated](/2020/01/27/coronation.html), I presided[^float] over the Krewe of Freret's parade on February 15th. It was an important year for Freret. Despite only being their 7th year with a permit, they have been established as the lead parade in the first weekend, with custom floats and media mentions of "superkrewe" status. Adding to that they held the inaugural [Shorty Gras](https://shortygrasnola.com/) event, ending the parade with a concert featuring important local musicians.

[^float]: "Presided" might be a bit grandiose. The King is a nice ceremonial role, but my float was behind those of the Captain, Grand Marshall, and Queen.

<figure><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//embedftv-a.akamaihd.net/443e6fae73b2f3acd42c880b3dab3981" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen></iframe><figcaption>France 2 embedded journalists in our krewe to produce a <a href="https://www.francetvinfo.fr/culture/musique/jazz/la-nouvelle-orleans-toute-en-couleurs_3839553.html">short series</a>. My arrival begins at 4:40.</figcaption></figure>

Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews was Grand Marshall, riding with Juvenile, Angela Bassett, and Mannie Fresh on a very grand custom float. The base floats were themed after musicians, and Boyfriend rode on her own, with a [live painting](https://www.instagram.com/p/B8o2A9gFDaP/). It must be great art since I appear as a minor background character.

I am excited that the Krewe du Kanaval [joined us](https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_e26b5710-51df-11ea-935c-77249f44a3c2.html), adding Régine Chassagne (Arcade Fire), Spike Jonze, Jude Law, and Jimmy Buffet to the roster. More importantly, they bring a lot of style. Not that we lacked for this ourselves, with Lucha Krewe and [many other fabulous participants](https://latonola.wordpress.com/2020/02/17/krewe-of-freret/).

On the King's float, we had friends from St. Louis ([Ryan](http://ryanstephenson.com/) and [Kelly](http://sagelark.com/), Seattle ([Dan](http://tumbiri.com/) and Aline), and Amsterdam ([Abe](https://www.instagram.com/abenaous/) and [Campbell](https://www.instagram.com/campbellsoup1992/)) join us. And my brother [Kurt](https://kurt.gerwitz.com/) and [Katie](https://www.instagram.com/katiegerwitz/) surprised us by returning from Denver.

Shannon costumed all of us with neck ruffs, bringing some Rembrandtian Dutch flair. We shared her [amazing masks](https://shannonethomas.com/art/freretmasks.html) with the crowd, I made my toast with the mayor and received a key to the city.

The weather was perfect, turnout for the parade and parties far exceeded expectations, and in a year beset with troubles for the big krewes, Freret really established themselves as a key part of Mardi Gras. I am honored that [Captain Bobby](https://www.instagram.com/uptownbobby/) chose me as the ninth King.
