New Orleans did not wait for Sunday to roll out the royal treatment. Yesterday, Patrick Warburton was greeted with a warm welcome as the city cranked up the Carnival energy ahead of this weekend’s big parades. The actor, tapped as this year’s Bacchus king, waved to cheering crowds along the Uptown route and stopped for photos with fans, giving onlookers an early taste of the star power set to roll with the Krewe of Bacchus on Sunday.
Video from a local station shows Warburton smiling, posing and chatting with supporters along the sidewalk, according to WWLTV. The footage captures an upbeat, almost block-party mood on St. Charles Avenue as Carnival weekend moves into high gear.
Parade Preview
Warburton will reign as Bacchus LVII when the krewe rolls Sunday at 5:15 p.m. along the traditional St. Charles Avenue Uptown route, according to NOLA.com. The 32-float procession is themed “Bacchus Celebrates America 250” and will showcase hand-painted designs from Kern Studios along with several new signature entries, according to the official parade guide at MardiGrasNewOrleans.com.
Throws, Floats and Fans
Kern Studios built this year’s full parade lineup, and the krewe says roughly 1,700 riders are set to shower the crowd with hundreds of custom throws. Local reporting highlights plans for about 250,000 pairs of socks in 47 different designs, a particularly quirky flex for serious collectors. The parade will also debut new features such as the Baby Whoppa float and an expanded slate of signature throws, per WVUE.
Warburton Off-Stage
When he is not on a float or in front of a camera, Warburton blends comedy with charity. The celebrity golf weekend he hosts brings together entertainers and athletes to raise money for St. Jude, according to the tournament’s official site at The Warburton. Bacchus leaders pointed to that philanthropic track record as one of the reasons they tapped him to wear the crown this year.
Who Else Is Riding
The guest list does not end with Warburton. New Orleans Saints Hall of Famer Drew Brees is slated to ride on a custom float, a booking organizers say will add yet another draw for fans along the route, according to WDSU. With celebrity riders stacked on top of signature floats, parade-watchers can expect heavy foot traffic and a loud, party-ready atmosphere along St. Charles Avenue.
Officials are urging paradegoers to plan ahead: arrive early, use public transit when possible and follow posted barricades along with any instructions listed on the krewe’s page at MardiGrasNewOrleans.com. Noisy, crowded and loaded with throwable surprises, Bacchus’ celebrity-studded run is shaping up to be one of the marquee events of this Carnival season in New Orleans.
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