This past Saturday, the highly anticipated Krewe of Endymion Parade and Extravaganza took place in Mid-City New Orleans, just one year after losing their beloved founder and Captain, Ed Muniz.
This years’ Endymion Parade theme was “Silents Are Golden,” a nod to the Golden Age of Hollywood and is dedicated to Captain Ed Muniz. For 57 years he remained the longest-serving Captain in Mardi Gras history. Ed’s drive and dedication to the Krewe led Endymion to be declared, “Mardi Gras’ Main Event.”
Right before the parade took off for the day, krewe president Dan Kelley unveiled a tribute statue of Captain Ed Muniz next to famous horse Endymion, who won the 1963 New Orleans Handicap. The monument sits on the new Captain’s Float, so Ed can always ride with his krewe.
Named after the Olympian god of fertility and eternal youth, the largest krewe in Mardi Gras history was founded in 1967 as a small neighborhood venture in the Bayou St. John-Gentilly area. By 1974, The Krewe of Endymion had grown into one of only 3 Super Krewes.
With upwards of 3,000 all male riders, featuring 37 floats, the motto of the Krewe is “Throw Until it Hurts” as they toss over 15 million throws along their parade route. At the ball you can see people ready with umbrellas and even hard hats to avoid injury from the massive amount of throws as the floats pass through the extravaganza.
Signature floats included Papa Joe’s SS Endymion, Club Endymion, The ETV Float, and the largest Mardi Gras float, at over 300 feet and nine sections long, the Pontchartrain Beach, “Then and Now” carrying 270 riders.
Serving as this years’ co-grand marshals were New Orleans City Administrator Gilbert Montaño and NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick. The co-grand marshals took their spots on a float in the parade, tossing out trinkets and beads to partygoers.
The Endymion Extravaganza after the parade was held at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center again due to renovations continuing to be made at their usual spot, the Superdome. The Extravaganza brought in over 20,000 guests in formal attire to watch the floats parade and to enjoy the musical guests of the night. Performances were by accomplished artists Sting, Flo Rida, The Mixed Nuts, Groovy 7, and The Wiseguys.
Sting sang his greatest hits while wearing all white and purple mardi gras beads for his one hour set. Flo Ride took the stage to close out the night around 1 a.m. and blew the party wide open with his club songs including “Wild Ones” and “Low” bringing ladies on stage to show off their best dance moves.
It was my first time attending the famous Endymion Ball as a guest and I had a fantastic time. The music and the parade was over the top and one of the best Mardi Gras experiences I have had in New Orleans.
See the full 2024 Mardi Gras parade schedule here.
Words by Emily Cigan @emily.cigan and Amy Harris @thetraveladdictig