Krewe

Origins and history

The practice began in the nineteenth century. In 1830, Mobile, Alabama established the Cowbellion de Rakin Society, a mystic group that staged annual street processions. Inspired by this tradition, a New Orleans group established Ye Mistick Krewe of Comus in the early nineteenth century, inventing the archaic spelling krewe. The tradition expanded to other cities sharing French Catholic heritage. In Lafayette, Louisiana, public festivities began crowning monarchs like King Attakapas in 1897, and the town later launched Oberon in 1928 as the state's oldest surviving children's group.

Membership and structure

Krewes range widely in their membership rules and financial commitments. Annual fees vary from around twenty dollars for small neighborhood clubs to several thousand dollars for lavish organizations. Some groups restrict admission to relatives of existing members, while others welcome any applicant who pays the fee. Gender policies also differ across clubs. Groups like Endymion in New Orleans and Gasparilla in Tampa are male-only, while Cleopatra, Muses, and Venus are women-only organizations. Many other clubs welcome all genders. Outside of Carnival, clubs hold private parties, balls, and charitable fundraisers.

Parades and throws

Putting on a street procession requires extensive planning and funding from the membership. In smaller clubs, members often assemble floats by hand and stitch their own themed costumes. Larger, high-budget organizations hire professional artists and builders to create their spectacle. Riders on the floats must purchase their own keepsakes, known as throws, which they toss into the gathering crowds. These items traditionally include strands of colorful beads and collectible coins, creating an energetic exchange between the paraders and parade watchers lining the streets.

Beyond New Orleans

While most famous for New Orleans Mardi Gras, krewe culture flourishes across the American South and beyond. In Louisiana, cities like Shreveport and Baton Rouge maintain active groups alongside Cajun traditions such as Courir de Mardi Gras. Across the Gulf Coast, Tampa organizes the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, and Tallahassee hosts Springtime celebrations. Krewe organizations have even traveled north to colder regions, staging winter festivities in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and participating in the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.

How Krewe is kept

Members join a krewe by paying annual dues or receiving an invitation. Throughout the year, they attend private social events, help raise charitable funds, and prepare for Carnival. Some members build floats and sew elaborate costumes, while others hire designers. When parade day arrives, members don disguises, board their floats, and ride through city streets. As the procession moves forward, riders toss strings of beads, tokens, and coins down to the spectators gathered below before gathering for private balls.

When and where

Krewes stage their major public processions and formal balls during the Carnival season leading up to Mardi Gras, though related festivals also occur during other community celebrations.

Krewes are most prominent in New Orleans and across Louisiana, including Lafayette, Shreveport, and Baton Rouge. They also flourish along the Gulf of Mexico in Mobile, Alabama, and Florida cities like Tampa, Tallahassee, and DeLand, as well as northern centers like La Crosse and Saint Paul.

Questions people ask about Krewe

See also

ChristmasA festival of Jesus's birth, kept on 25 December with gifts, lights and shared mealsHalloweenAn annual observance on 31 October marking the eve of All Saints' Day, rooted in Christian tradition and Celtic heritageValentine's DayA Christian feast day and cultural celebration of love kept on February 14 in many countries.Christmas treeA decorated evergreen or artificial tree placed indoors to mark the Christmas season.

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle

• Krewe on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.