Krewe of Muses parade on Jeudi Gras, the Thursday night prior to
Mardi Gras - which members call "tHERSday" as a nod to being a women's
Krewe. The parade starts in
Uptown New Orleans at
Magazine Street and Jefferson Avenue, then proceeds east to Napoleon Avenue where it turns left and follows
Knights of Babylon and
Knights of Chaos up
Napoleon Avenue, turning right onto
St. Charles Avenue and into downtown New Orleans, turning right onto Canal Street, and ending at approximately
Tchoupitoulas Street at
Poydras Street. The parade is followed by the "aMUSEment" party for members and their guests at a nearby venue, and features live entertainment. Unlike some other krewes, Krewe of Muses does not hold a traditional
bal masque.
Parade themes Krewe of Muses season parade theme is secret until Jeudi Gras, when it is published with illustrations of each float in the
Times-Picayune, and revealed when the parade rolls. The theme is always satirical. In 2006 to honor the victims of
Hurricane Katrina, the Muses had an empty float at the tail end of their parade, evoking the
riderless horse that follows the
caisson carrying the
casket in a
funeral procession.
Honorary Muses Krewe of Muses select an "Honorary Muse" each parade season. The honoree is someone who the Krewe feels is an inspiration to girls and women, and usually has strong ties to New Orleans and/or Louisiana. Each year's Honorary Muse rides in one of the Krewe's signature floats - a large, red, fiber optic high heeled shoe.
Floats •
The Goddessey is the first float in the parade and carries the Krewe captain and officers. Muses Krewe member Susan Gisleson designed “The Goddessey.” Built by Kerns Studios, it features Greek mythology's winged stallion, Pegasus; symbols for the nine muses in Greek mythology; and more than 100 peach-colored lanterns hanging from the Tree of Knowledge. •
High Heel Shoe carries the Honorary Muse of the Parade •
Bathing Muses (Tub), Mama Duck and Duckies •
The Sirens is the final float in the parade.
Throws Since its inception, Muses has emphasized gifting usable and "reMUSEable"
throws to parade-goers. This has included soap, earbuds, socks, water bottles, luggage tags, pens and notebooks, bandanass and scarves. In recent years, in response to city-wide efforts to keep storm drains clean and reduce environmental impact, Muses has scaled down the amount of single-use plastic in their manufactured throws, focusing on quality and durability. They have reduced the amount of traditional beads, and - like their logo polystone medallions - have found new ways to make certain items easier to repurpose, such as adding a "lobster claw" clasp or magnet. Many of the Muses tote bags, pencil bags, and cosmetic bags are also made from recycled materials. Inspired by the
Krewe of Zulu Coconut, the Krewe's signature throw is an upcycled high-heeled shoe. Each member decorates her own thrifted and gifted shoes year-round, incorporating glitter, paint, decoupage, and baubles and trims. They are presented in bags tied with ribbon, and often include personal cards or notes from the Krewe member who created them. The shoes are not wearable and the recipient is given one, not a pair. == Other activities ==