Laissez les bons temps rouler in Bossier by celebrating the Louisiana holiday of Mardi Gras the right way!

Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday” in French, is a Catholic celebration that has its roots in a Paris festival. Mardi Gras is always the day before Lent, a period of fasting and self-control. 

Mardi Gras was likely introduced to North America by French colonists in New Orleans around the early 1700s with impromptu parades and bystanders catching sugarcoated peanuts. The Old English term “krewe” became the standard term for organizations that host public Mardi Gras events.

Locally, Mardi Gras can be traced back 35 years when the Bossier Chamber of Commerce teamed up with the City of Bossier City to bring the south Louisiana tradition to northwest Louisiana. The Krewe of Gemini, a nonprofit organization made up of volunteers, was subsequently formed as the first parading Krewe in Bossier-Shreveport and hosted its first parade Feb. 24, 1990.

Tony Richardson, captain of Gemini XXXVI, said their New Orleans-style parade is a sight to admire.

“It really is all about presentation and show. The beads are just icing on the cake,” he said.

The Krewe gets their props from south Louisiana and has teams travel north to give their floats a fresh paint job. Each year, the Krewe of Gemini picks a theme and has its floats match that theme with riders dressed in matching costumes.

Part of what makes the Krewe of Gemini special is that they have a new theme and design each year. This year’s theme is “Dreamcatcher.” 

“Each float lieutenant has to pick the theme for their individual float while matching the overall theme,” Richardson explained. “That means they had to pick their childhood dream — like, being a cowboy or superhero for example.”

The Krewe of Gemini will give the public chances to celebrate Mardi Gras with their Float Loading Party and their annual parade.

The Float Loading Party will be held at their den on East Texas Street in Bossier City on Feb. 28 from 5:30-9 p.m. This free, laid back event allows the public to see the parade floats up close, get beads, and examine past costumes.

“It’s a sneak peek behind the scenes with a lower-intensity, family-friendly experience,” said Richardson. “All the floats will be present, and the Krewe will be handing out beads.”

The next day on March 1 is the main event with the Krewe of Gemini Parade from 3-7 p.m. on Clyde Fant Parkway in Shreveport.

To help those new to Mardi Gras parade experience, Richardson and the Krewe of Gemini offered up a few “Deauxs” and “Don’ts.”

Deauxs: 

• Yell — This is a case where it’s ok to shout, and the louder you are, the more likely you are to be noticed.
• Make signs — It’s an easy way to get a reaction from the Krewe. For example, say you’re new or tell the Krewe how much you love them!
• Wear comfortable shoes — You will be on your feet for hours. Those high heels might look good on you, but they’re probably not practical.
• Be prepared to wait — Depending on where you are along the parade route, it could take a while before the slow roll reaches your spot. Don’t worry, there will be plenty to go around.
• Be alert — A Mardi Gras parade is controlled chaos with items coming from all directions. If you’re not paying attention, you can get blindsided by a stack of beads. 

Don’ts:

• Get too close to the floats — They may look magical, but these are still moving vehicles. Getting your foot smashed wouldn’t make for a great holiday.
• Get in the road — Don’t risk running out to grab that set of beads lying on the road. Also, it’s not worth getting hurt or bringing the parade to a halt by trying to switch sides of the street.
• Throw items back — Maybe you’re a vegetarian and don’t want that hot dog you just caught, but it’s rude and dangerous to throw something back to the Krewe. 
• Snatch beads — Intercepting a throw happens every so often, but snatching a set of beads from someone’s hands is not cool. Plus, fighting over a set will only cause it to break!
• Bring small children — Parades are a lot of fun, but they’re too loud and raucous for babies or small children. For families, a special zone is set up at Veteran’s Park near Stoner Avenue.

For more info, visit the Krewe of Gemini’s website.