where are the house floats in new orleans
Phoebe Jones/WWNO The number one house to come see, so I'm happy.”, “It's been wonderful,” she said. NEW ORLEANS — The moment you have all been waiting for is finally here. Their neighborhood has emerged as a house float hotbed in recent weeks. Some 3,000 homes across New Orleans and its suburbs — even some as far away as Luxembourg — are dolled up for the inaugural Krewe of House Floats. Across New Orleans, thousands of homes like this one — the "Queen of Bounce House" — are decorated for Mardi Gras. That morning, Megan Joy … Janet McConnaughey/AP Parade float workers Travis Keene, left, Joey Mercer and Chelsea Kamm, right, decorates a house in New Orleans, Jan. 8, 2021. “The phone, ring! But the “house float” movement started almost as soon as a New Orleans spokesman announced Nov. 17 that parades were off. For weeks Mayor LaToya Cantrell and other officials have invited tourists to visit for Mardi Gras, as long as they adhere to local restrictions. February 3, 2021 by Emily Weaver. The "Candyland" themed house float of Chrissy Whalin and her 12-year-old son Zephyr Cooke is one of more than a hundred in the Algiers Point neighborhood of New Orleans. Pictures of Mardi Gras House Floats New Orleans Residents Are Decorating Their Houses Amid Mardi Gras Cancellation, and It's Amazing. The Krewe of House Floats created an interactive, online map of all the decorated Mardi Gras homes in Louisiana, as well as around the rest of the country and even the world. The house floats are festive and fabulous, but with lots of people wanting to check them out, it … "What was meant to be kind of an offhand comment turned into the whole city. The house float's official name is Covidland. PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER “I reached out to one of the local Mardi Gras artists and I was like, ‘Do you think you could make me a big Big Freedia?’ Then, I just blinged her out, bedazzled her and put some eyelashes on her and a crown because every queen needs her crown.”. It turned into the whole country.". "It's a little surreal how we got to this place," Boudreaux said. “I had to hire a staff,” Rene said. In two months, they've crafted more than two dozen house floats and their team of two has grown to nine. It’s all thanks to a new Mardi Gras tradition, helping find light in the darkest of times. Instead of floats going by spectators, people can (in a socially-distant way) go by homes-turned-floats instead. There are more than 140 decorated homes within walking distance and thousands more a short drive away. hide caption. The "Kraken" house float, on Memphis St., in Lakeview, is one of thousands in the New Orleans area decorated in celebration of Mardi Gras in Louisiana, February 7, 2021. Boudreaux then had the idea that her neighbors might want to join in, too. Phoebe Jones/WWNO Then, the Krewe of House Floats rolled into their lives. "I'm from California, where we would just be complaining," Whalin said. With what seemed like a simple tweet by a local, the idea of The Krewe Of House Floats exploded and opened a pandora’s box of creativity and excitement in the city of New Orleans (and world wide). View of a "house float" decorated in honor of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on January 28, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. There are no large gatherings or official tours sponsored by the Krewe of House Floats. With that, an idea born out of coronavirus restrictions went, well… viral. Some 3,000 homes across New Orleans and its suburbs -- even some as far away as Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates -- are dolled up for the inaugural Krewe of House Floats… Phoebe Jones/WWNO Regarding the pandemic and the house floats, New Orleans seems to take hits and build back better, to borrow a phrase. There are now house floats overseas in the U.K., Australia, the Netherlands and Abu Dhabi. 'Krewe of House Floats' provides unique way for New Orleans to celebrate The cancelation of parades, which draw more than 1 million visitors to New Orleans each year, was disappointing to … On one street in the Algiers Point neighborhood in New Orleans sits the Little Shop of 2020 Horrors, a house float featuring a literal dumpster fire, complete with a … hide caption. This year, house floats have brought that magic back. 'Queen of Bounce House,' Big Freedia float house, 4321 Laurel St.,house concept by Dr. Sarena Teng, Big Freedia artwork by Maddie Stratton & Coco Darrow of Stronghold Studios On a recent Sunday, the day before the krewe's map was set to launch, many of Boudreaux's neighbors were busy completing their floats. We will continue to update this guide through Mardi Gras, February 16. Yeah, this is my home. hide caption. “I went from just me in a backyard, to hiring six people.”. While the vast majority are in the greater New Orleans area, Mardi Gras enthusiasts have created floats in at least 40 states. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Boudreaux's home, dubbed the USS House Float, sports nautical flags, life preservers and an oversized ship wheel. “We got hit so hard with COVID,” said Teng, who is also a frontline health care professional. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. hide caption. Just because the Mardi Gras parades are canceled, it hasn't stopped people's creativity. "I've gotten messages from artists and businesses who said, 'We didn't know how we were going to get through this year," Boudreaux said. ERIKA GOLDRING / Getty Images Phoebe Jones/WWNO Whalin and Zephyr decorated their home too. The "Birds of Bulbancha" house float made by the Krewe of Red Beans in New Orleans. As krewe captain, Boudreaux said her top priority is safety. Magazine Street stalwarts like Miette, Home Malone, Alice and Amelia and Fleurty Girl have options ranging from king cake door wreaths to float flowers. "It's a little surreal how we got to this place," Boudreaux said. It's modeled after the board game Candyland, complete with inflatable gummy bears, homemade game pieces, and ice cream balloons. In response, Megan Boudreaux, a 38-year-old insurance claims manager, took to Twitter and wrote: "Last year I made a bunch of origami flowers that kiddo and I passed out to people while we wandered around the French Quarter. Large gatherings in the French Quarter at the end of January led to internet outrage. Phoebe Jones/WWNO So people in New Orleans turned their houses into floats. “I'll go start a Facebook group,” she thought. The house float movement has given birth to a mini economy, putting laid-off musicians and artists back to work, saving businesses and fundraising for New Orleanians in need. "You know the magic of Mardi Gras is ephemeral and it comes and it goes, but in that moment when you're there, it's just pure bliss, it's pure joy.". From the mansions along St. Charles Avenue with elaborate displays by one of the city's biggest float-making studios to the countless DIY efforts spurred by the growing Krewe of House Floats Facebook group, New … “Oh my god, you already know!” Morgan said with a laugh. Just because the Mardi Gras parades are canceled, it hasn't stopped people's creativity. Building 3,000 house floats was a … House Float #17: Be a Superhero @ Children’s Hospital Hogs for a Cause House, New Orleans House Float #18: 7th Ward Legends @ 1300 Block St. Anthony House Float #19: The Galapagos @ 7710 Spruce St, New Orleans In the Freret neighborhood alone, 100 houses are participating in the Krewe of House Floats including residential and commercial properties. With Mardi Gras parades and parties postponed because of the pandemic, New Orleans residents decided to turn their homes into house floats with … Over 3,000 New Orleanians have found a new place for their "parade floats." Tempted to continue the theme, turn the whole house into a flower float and pass out flowers to the neighbors while I drink all day.". Phoebe Jones/WWNO hide caption. https://wgno.com/mardi-gras-2021/krewe-of-house-floats-full-map "People in New Orleans know how to take the crap and make something great with it. Darrow and her husband own The Stronghold Studios, a commercial art company. Megan Boudreaux, founder of Krewe of House Floats, stands outside her own home and the 'USS House Float,' in Algiers Point. "All we want to do is make people happy, make people smile." "It's a play on board games because we're bored at home," Whalin said. The Claiborne Corridor, a more local gathering place, is also fenced off. Coco Darrow (L) and Maddie Stratton (R) work on Mardi Gras decorations at The Stronghold Studios in New Orleans. The Krewe of House Floats has released its comprehensive list of decorated homes across the New Orleans area. “Like, I can't even keep track because there's a new favorite one every day.”. NEW ORLEANS– The house floats on St. Charles Avenue are becoming a huge attraction. NEW ORLEANS, La. “I'll decorate my house,” Megan Boudreaux recalled thinking when she heard Mardi Gras parades were canceled in the city. “Oh, I love her. Inez Pierre, of Crescent City Artists, stands in front of her family's home. “It's been nonstop.”. NEW ORLEANS — There’s a house float in Lakeview that is getting a lot of attention because it features a giant octopus attacking the Soliman family home. ", The "Candyland" themed house float of Chrissy Whalin and her 12-year-old son Zephyr Cooke is one of more than a hundred in the Algiers Point neighborhood of New Orleans. I had to come see to this. While some of the floats have been commissioned by businesses, others have been raffled off, like a tiny house float in the city's 7th Ward. It's one of 63 house floats created by the family's business. “I am the fool who opened my mouth on the internet,” Boudreaux said with a laugh. “It's so overwhelming,” Boudreaux said, about her idea taking off. "We want people to be safe.". Then, the website is bing, bing, bing, bing, bing,” Inez said. “We've been like to the grind and with cramping fingers and hurting feet,” said Rene Pierre, who, with his wife, Inez, owns Crescent City Artists. Fast forward eleven weeks and she's now founder and captain of the city's newest and fastest-growing krewe — the Krewe of House Floats. Phoebe Jones/WWNO High traffic areas, including Bourbon Street, Frenchmen Street and Decatur Street are closed to vehicles and pedestrians from 7 p.m. until 3 a.m. Yes, New Orleans was hit … hide caption. 2021 House Floats Map! Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. The "Candyland" themed house float of Chrissy Whalin and her 12-year-old son Zephyr Cooke is one of more than a hundred in the Algiers Point neighborhood of New Orleans. “This was definitely the turnaround we needed,” Rene said, adding, “Thank you, Megan!”. Coco Darrow (L) and Maddie Stratton (R) work on Mardi Gras decorations at The Stronghold Studios in New Orleans. The float honors Louisiana's wildlife, complete with giant spoonbills and pelicans. House floats are floating artists an economic life raft during the COVID pandemic. This article tagged under: Mardi Gras New Orleans She's called out articles marketing the house floats movement as a tourist attraction and put together a virtual tour for out-of-towners. The house floats movement was born on Nov. 17, 2020, the same day the city announced there would be no parades during the upcoming Carnival season due to the coronavirus. “People just needed some joy.”. Just like during Carnival season, where you can see floats in parades both during the day and at night, the Krewe of House Floats is going for the same thing. The "Little Shop of 2020 Horrors" house float is in the Algiers Point neighborhood of New Orleans. On one street in the Algiers Point neighborhood in New Orleans sits the Little Shop of 2020 Horrors, a house float featuring a literal dumpster fire, complete with a murder hornet and toilet paper shortage. Whalin and Zephyr decorated their home too. The house floats movement was born on Nov. 17, 2020, the same day the city announced there would be no parades during the upcoming Carnival season due to the coronavirus. Mardi Gras float house at 823 Peniston Street in New Orleans photographed by Chris Granger. "It's a little surreal how we got to this place," Boudreaux said. Across New Orleans, thousands of homes like this one — the "Queen of Bounce House" — are decorated for Mardi Gras. "The pandemic is raging throughout the whole country. In the Quarter, the sale of packaged liquor is also banned. "The fact that house floats exist, they're keeping the Mardi Gras economy afloat.". When Crissy Whalin and her 12-year-old son, Zephyr Cooke, settled in the New Orleans neighborhood of Algiers Point in 2020, the last thing they expected was a front-row seat to the city's Mardi Gras comeback. The Kraken house float, on Memphis St., in Lakeview, is one of thousands in the New Orleans area decorated in celebration of Mardi Gras in Louisiana, U.S., February 7, 2021. Boudreaux lives in Algiers Point too and invited her neighbors to decorate their homes as well. After completing 65 house floats, they’re thrilled their business didn’t just survive, it thrived. ", including city-wide bar closures not just on Fat Tuesday, but for the four days prior. Parade float workers Travis Keene, left, and Joey Mercer position a pelican while fellow crew member Chelsea Kamm, right, looks on while decorating a house in New Orleans on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021.