Krewe of Bacchus

History of Bacchus:

Named for the Greek god of wine, the Krewe of Bacchus has been a major part of Mardi Gras since 1968, when Bacchus emerged as the first organization to allow tourists to join and ride floats. Previously, krewe memberships were limited to residents who participated in events all year long, and many krewes had members who had participated for generations. Bacchus changed that in New Orleans, at least as far as the new "super krewes" are concerned.

Royalty:

Bacchus usually has a celebrity monarch. Its first king was Danny Kaye, and other familiar names since then include Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Kirk Douglas, Billy Crystal, and Nicholas Cage. This year, James Gandolfini will be reigning over the festivities.

Signature Floats:

Bacchus is known for its super-sized, animated, floats with fabulous fiberoptic lighting. Among the signature floats are the Kong family (King, Mama, and Baby), Bacchasaurus(a dinosaur),Bacchagator(a white alligator), and Bacchawhoppa(85 feet long. The other floats are redecorated on an annual basis to reflect the parade's theme.

Throws:

The group tosses grape cluster beads that blink, Bacchus medallion necklaces, theme medallion necklaces, plush animals, themed cups, and doubloons.

When:

The Sunday before Mardi Gras beginning at about 5:15. p.m. It travels the St. Charles Avenue route from Napoleon and lasts at least 5 hours from beginning to end.

Go The Official Site :

For any other information you need including the route, go to the [link=http://www.kreweofbacchus.org/html/index.htm]official Bacchus site.[/link]