‘tit Rəx is New Orleans first and only MicroKrewe in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. A group of artists, business people, teachers, workers founded ‘tit Rəx in 2009 in a response to the super krewes constantly setting records for floats, throws and extravagance.
‘tit Rəx takes an opposite approach focusing instead of on massive floats that take up entire blocks, the ‘tit Rəx floats are made out shoeboxes that look like full size floats.
The parade’s name comes from the Cajun abbreviation of petite, used as a prefix before the name of the smaller or younger of two people who share a first name.
The 2024 parade theme was, ‘Is THAT all there is?’ inspired by the Peggy Lee song that delves into emotions of disillusionment, extravagant behavior, and a desire for more in life, the krewe embraces a self-deprecating theme.
One of my favorites floats was “A Streetcar Slow & Tired” featuring Marshmallow Peeps riding inside.
The parade marched their shoebox floats through the streets of the Marigny last night on a brisk New Orleans evening. The cold temperatures didn’t deter attendance because the streets were packed with people along the route.
This is a parade that locals love and is fun for the whole family. Child size displays of toys are setup along the parade route for small-size ‘spectators’ to enjoy the views of the miniature floats.
‘tit Rex is a crafters dream creating micro floats that pay tribute to the parade theme each year. One parade participant, Madeleine Jennings, collaborated with another artist, Eli, to build a scale model of one of the city’s most talked about skyscrapers, Plaza Tower.
The parade featured 40 tiny, handmade and hand-pulled floats, each one demonstrating that no glittering detail is too small when it comes to the pageantry of Carnival.
Krewe participants stroll at a leisurely slow pace, guiding their miniature floats with wheels on leashes, allowing onlookers to appreciate the intricate, small details. Frequently, they pause to embrace neighbors and friends, while also distributing personally crafted homemade tiny throws.
It was a night of neighborhood fun as crowds gathered across the Marigny neighborhood to cheer on the parade.
The full list of New Orleans Mardi Gras parades can be found here.