Photos: Mayor holds Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World
With music blasting and feathers flying, the spectacular Zulu Tramps parading group accompanied Mayor LaToya Cantrell to the stage at Mardi Gras World on Saturday morning to officially welcome the Carnival season.
After a presentation of celebratory remarks, the mayor and other dignitaries on the dais cut into two enormous King Cakes and distributed slices to the crowd of krewe representatives, politicians, and the press.
The centerpiece of Saturday’s announcements was the presentation of a study by Tulane Economics professor Toni Weiss that estimated an enormous impact from Carnival on New Orleans’ financial well-being. Rex representative James Reiss III and Zulu President Elroy James took turns presenting statistics from the study.
Mayor Cantrell welcomes $900 million Mardi Gras season at King’s Day Celebration
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Mayor LaToya Cantrell greets New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, alongside Civil District Judge and Zulu President Elroy James, before making an entrance with a second line parade led by the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club during the Mayor's Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. It was Kirkpatrick's first time in a second-line parade. The new police chief later ate her first slice of king cake. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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People gather at Mardi Gras World before the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party official begins in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Le Bon Ton Babydolls pose before a second line into the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick waits with the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club tramps to second line into the Mayor’s Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Mayor LaToya Cantrell, New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, Mardi Gras royalty, baby dolls and Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club member second line into the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Justin Fennidy, of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, dances with Jacques Serigne, 7, during the Mayor’s Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Myron "Everywhere" Thibodeaux Jr., of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, dances during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Dr. Courtney Villere, the first Queen of the all-female Krewe on the West Bank, Krewe of Nandi, second lines during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Arthur Hardy gives thumbs up as krewe members second line by during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club tramps attend the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Julius Feltus acts as the announcer during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Mayor LaToya Cantrell speaks during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Rex official James Reiss III speaks during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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The Rex proclamation is unveiled during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. The proclamation was made by Royal Artist Patti Adams. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Zulu president Elroy James and Rex official James Reiss III speak during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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People listen to the new finding of the Mardi Gras Economic Impact Study conducted by Dr.Toni Weiss of Tulane University during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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King Zulu 2024 Melvin Labat stands up to be recognized during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Rex official James Reiss III listens to Zulu president Elroy James speak during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Artist Terrance Osborne speaks about the Mardi Gras poster he designed during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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The Culinary Kings and Queens of New Orleans 2024 Queen Deyonko Brown stands up to be recognized during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Councilman Freddie King III looks at Zulu beads with his son Freddie King IV during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Representatives of the city, Rex and Zulu cut king cakes during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Representatives of the city, Rex and Zulu eat slices of king cake during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Arthur Hardy receives king cake during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Artist Terrance Osborne stands next to a painting he did for the Zulu poster during the MayorÕs Mardi Gras King Cake Party at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)