The first parades of Mardi Gras 2014 begin this Saturday, Feb. 15. Krew de Vieux and Krewe of Delusion roll in the French Quarter to kick off the festivities, and Hammond’s own Krewe of Omega rolls Feb. 21.
Traditions are being broken this year as there are some new restrictions for 2014 to make the streets of New Orleans a safer place for everyone.
In a unanimous vote, the New Orleans City Council approved several new rules that will be enforced during the parades this year. According to Nola.com, the following rules will be enforced during this Carnival season: throwbacks or tossing throws back at the maskers now carries a fine of $250. Private portable toilets are banned on public property, including the neutral ground. Companies that place toilets on public property will be subject to a $250 fine. Parking on both sides of St. Charles Avenue and Napoleon Avenue is prohibited starting two hours before the parade. Ladders, tents, grills and other “personal effects,” must be at least 6 feet back from the curb. Ladders cannot be chained together. Roping off private areas with ropes, tarps, chairs or anything else is banned.
According to Nola.com the parking regulations have been instated as a result of first responders being blocked from responding to calls in that area by parked cars.The six feet from the curb rule for ladders is being enforced because previous rules about keeping ladders away from the curbs have been loosely enforced or ignored. City Council is aiming to stamp out the problem by cracking down on this rule.
Despite a damper with the new regulations, lots of celebrities will be riding in parades this year. Hugh Laurie will be Bacchus’s Celebrity King of 2014, Rob Ryan will be Grand Marshall for Krewe of Argus on Mari Gras day, Quinten Tarrantino will be Grand Marshall of Krewe of Orpheus Lundi Gras night. Carrie Underwood will headline the Endymion Extravaganza inside the Mercedes Benz Superdome, while TheCW heart throb of “The Vampire Diaries” and Covington native Ian Somerhalder will ride as Co-Grand Marshall with “Walking Dead’s” Norman Reedus for Endymion. According to Entertainment Weekly, Somerhalder will be throwing custom edition “The Vampire Diaries” beads.
Hammond’s Krewe of Omgea rolls at 6:30 p.m. For more information for up-to-date Mari Gras 2014 news, stay tuned to The Lion’s Roar.