krewe

social club

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June 30, 2026

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A krewe is a private organization that stages festivities, such as parades, during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. These social clubs are a key part of the Mardi Gras celebration, which is a Christian holiday marking the last day before the season of Lent. Krewes organize parades with decorated floats and masked riders, often throwing beads to the crowds. The term "krewe" is an alteration of the word "crew" and was first used in 1857.123

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New Orleans
Cultural life
…Carnival group (called a “krewe”) was the Mystick Krewe of Comus, which appeared in 1857, though celebrations by masked participants date to the 1820s. The krewe of Rex came into existence in 1872. In 1992 the city council began requiring all krewes to be racially integrated; as a result,…
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…Carnival group (called a “krewe”) was the Mystick Krewe of Comus, which appeared in 1857, though celebrations by masked participants date to the 1820s. The krewe of Rex came into existence in 1872. In 1992 the city council began requiring all krewes to be racially integrated; as a result,…
Read More