Mardi Gras Krewe Taking a Break in 2020, No Parade

The Original Krewe of Orpheus has decided to sit Mardi Gras 2020 out. No parade will roll in Mandeville for the krewe, which was founded in 1987 by several Northshore business owners who wanted Mandeville to have a parade during Mardi Gras season. The parade traditionally rolls on the Friday before Mardi Gras.

According to Orpheus Captain Chad Bordelon, who told WGNO; 'We are in the process of re-building our membership and did not feel that we could display the type of parade Mandeville deserves. It is our plan to roll once again for Mardi Gras 2021. We have a core membership of about 100 adults who love Mardi Gras and want to parade in Mandeville. We feel that we need to double that membership in order to put on a really good parade.'

Bordelon goes on to state that membership applications are currently open for anyone interested in joining the krewe, and that plans are already underway for a parade to roll on Friday, January 29, 2021. Mardi Gras Day for 2021 is February 16th. This is the second time the krewe has suspended their parade. The first time was due to a decline in membership following Hurricane Katrina. The krewe was originally all male but went co-ed in 2017.