Mardi Gras on the NorthShore

Mardi Gras in Covington and St. Tammany Parish

If you enjoy Mardi Gras, but don't want to brave the hustle and bustle of New Orleans, then Carnival on the North Shore is the place for you and your family. There are plenty of parades, masking and throws and the pace is much slower and more family friendly than the Big Easy. Mardi Gras on the North Shore reminds one of times gone by, when several generations of a family could enjoy the festivities. We hope you enjoy this virtual trip to Mardi Gras in St. Tammany Parish.

Mardi Gras is a State of Mind

(Mardi Gras is February 16, 2010)

Mardi Gras is Enjoyed by Young and Old

Although my husband was born in New Orleans, he has lived most of his adult life in Baton Rouge and Covington, but the fun of Mardi Gras runs through his veins. He has been attending carnival parades since he was a little boy. In fact, sometimes three generations of his family would go to the Mardi Gras. For the last 30 years or so, Mardi Gras Fever has been spreading north from New Orleans. Many towns on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain have been organizing parades and Krewes for years.

Go to the Mardi Gras by Professor Longhair

Turn on your speakers and click on the video to hear, "Go to the Mardi Gras". It will help you get in the spirit while you read the lens.

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Parades on the North Shore are much quieter and more family oriented. It's like it was in the old days where families stake out their spot on the parade route and bring their tail-gating feasts and specially constructed Mardi Gras ladders for the kids. We park the van along the route the day before the Covington Lion's Club parade and have it stocked with supplies and Mardi Gras music. We usually mask, too. Now that we are more mature, this easy, more sedate form of Mardi Gras is just right. We enjoy the day, catch and throw many beads and trinkets and are home by 3:00 p.m. with plenty of loot to share with family and friends or put in the attic for next year.

North Shore VS South Shore

Which would you rather attend?

Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

Give me the crush of crowds and night life of New Orleans

A North Shore Mardi Gras for the family sounds good to me

naturegirl7 says:

It's the Northshore for us. At our age, we like to enjoy the parades and catch some beads and be back home by 2:00 p.m.

Posted June 04, 2009

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Parades and Schedules for St. Tammany Parish

St. Tammany Parish, on Lake Pontchartrain's North Shore has quite a few colorful and entertaining parades. All are family oriented so you should not run into the "girls gone wild" behavior that is rampant on the South Shore in New Orleans.

Sunday, February 1, 2009
Krewe of Slidellians - Slidell, 1:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 7, 2009
Krewe of Bilge - Oak Harbor Marina, Slidell, Noon

Sunday, February 8, 2009
St. Tammany
Mystic Krewe of Perseus - Slidell, 1 p.m.
Founded in 1970, the Krewe of Perseus is named for the Greek hero of legend who slew Medusa. The krewe's king and queen are known as King Perseus and Queen Andromeda, repectively.
Official Website: http://kreweofperseus.com/

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009
St. Tammany
Dionysus - Mandeville, 1:30 p.m.
Dionysus, also known as Bacchus, is the god of wine. This Slidell krewe was founded in 1985.
Eve - Mandeville, 7 p.m.
This all-female North Shore krewe was founded in 1986.

Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009
St. Tammany
Olympia - Covington, 6 p.m.
This 260-member krewe was founded in 1965 by several north shore businessmen. The krewe first paraded in 1966. This organization will roll in Covington.
Mona Lisa and Moon Pie - Slidell, 7 p.m.

Friday, February 20, 2009
St. Tammany
Selene - Slidell, 6:30 p.m.
Formed in 1998, the Krewe of Selene is named for the ancient Greek goddess of the moon.
Orpheus - Mandeville, 7 p.m.
The Original Krewe of Orpheus (not to be confused with the south shore krewe of the same name) was formed in 1987 and had their first parade in 1988. The krewe's special throw, the Pineloon, is a decorated pinecone attached to a doubloon.

Sunday, February 22, 2009
St. Tammany
Tchefuncte - Madisonville, 2 p.m.
Organized in 1973, this boat parade cruises the Tchefuncte River every sunday before Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras, February 24, 2009
St. Tammany
Lions - Covington, 10 a.m.
The Covington Lions Club formed in 1959 to bring the celebration of Mardi Gras to the Covington area.
Covington - after Lions
The Mystic Krewe of Covington was organized in 1951 as the Krewe of KaaCee, a group formed by the local Knights of Columbus.

Reference: NOLA.com

St. Tammany Parish on Wiki

St. Tammany Parish () is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, in the New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area. The parish seat is Covington. As of 2000, the population was 191,268. In 2004, the population was estimated to have grown to 212,000, and after the landfall of Hurricane Katrina the following year, the population was estimated by St. Tammany Planners to be about 264,000. Most new residents are thought to have come from St. Bernard Parish. If correct, these figures make St. Tammany Parish the fastest-growing parish in the state, overtaking Livingston and Ascension parishes.

The Moon Handbooks New Orleans: Including Cajun Country and the River Road, published in 2007, stated that people wanting to live in close proximity to New Orleans without living in New Orleans will likely cause the population of St. Tammany Parish to increase. [http://books.google.com/books?id=3CDGQinECFgC&pg=PA229&lpg=PA229&dq=st+tammany+parish+suburb&source=web&ots=7lJchXZTFG&sig=AUmlh_0MGt24HT7LxnEiWUHiByI&hl=en]

read the rest of the Wikipedia article

Mask as a Greek Goddess

Greek Goddess Adult Costume Plus Size

Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)

Carnival Time by Al Johnson

Another great Mardi Gras song that will make you want to dance.

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North Shore Mardi Gras

One of the first events that we attended when we moved to Covington was Mardi Gras. Compared to New Orleans, the parade on Mardi Gras Day is a small affair, but it is enjoyed by young and old alike. You won't see the same debauchery that is rampant in the French Quarter, but as we age, the need for that kind of baudy fun decreases. We'd like to show you what Mardi Gras is like on the northshore. So sit back and enjoy a virtual trip (with pointers) to Mardi Gras in Covington, Louisiana on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

Planning is the key to enjoying Mardi Gras. First you need to stake out a good spot, or know someone who does. Each year we park the van in our hand picked spot on the parade route, the day before the parade.

We stock it with all the necessities, including decorations, music, beads to throw to the kids before the parade, folding chairs, food, drink and a porta potty. We usually sit on top of the van, so that we will be on eye level with most of the floats and trucks. With the decorations and the eye contact, most krewe members throw us plenty.

Mardi Gras on the NorthShore

Mardi Gras in Covington and St. Tammany Parish

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

Mardi Gras is a State of Mind

Mardi Gras is Enjoyed by Young and Old

Go to the Mardi Gras by Professor Longhair

North Shore VS South Shore

Which would you rather attend?

Give me the crush of crowds and night life of New Orleans

A North Shore Mardi Gras for the family sounds good to me

naturegirl7 says:

Parades and Schedules for St. Tammany Parish

St. Tammany Parish on Wiki

Mask as a Greek Goddess

Carnival Time by Al Johnson

North Shore Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras Supplies on Amazon

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Doggy Friends can Mask, too

Iko Iko by the Dixie Cups

Throw Me Somethin', Mister!

2006 Mardi Gras

Post Katrina

Mask as Athena

Happier Times for Mardi Gras 2007

Mask as a Pirate

Electric Boogie by Marcia Griffins

Costumes and Masking

Mardi Gras on Etsy

Costumes and Masking on Amazon

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Please pick your widget size and display. Then click "Make the Widget" to get the code that's just right for you.

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Mardi Gras for the Pooch

Abita Springs Lawn Mower Parade

Mardi Gras 2008

Mardi Gras on eBay

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Mardi Gras Amazon MP3's

Mardi Gras on Zazzle

Mardi Gras Masks on CafePress

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