Le Krewe de Bienville Mardi Gras Parade

Founded in 1961, the Krewe, created by downtown hotel owners and then-Mayor Joe Langan, was started as a non-parading organization, and its ball was often referred to as the out-of-towners' ball. The idea was that folks visiting from out-of-town who were unable to attend a Mardi Gras ball because they couldn't score an invitation could now attend the ball put on by Le Krewe de Bienville by purchasing a ticket.