Seven-year-old Ruby Anderson will lead the Krewe of Dionysus down Slidell's parade route on Jan. 31, 2027, as the krewe's first female grand marshal in the krewe's history. The Whispering Forest Elementary second grader, who uses a wheelchair with colorful wheel spokes, was tapped after krewe leaders spotted her at a local fashion show earlier this year.
The Krewe of Dionysus board approved Anderson's selection, making her the krewe's 22nd grand marshal overall, according to NOLA.com. Krewe leaders first noticed Anderson at the Hugs4Kids fashion show, a nonprofit founded by Chris Sperling that partners with regional medical centers to put pediatric patients on the runway, per The Slidell Times. The krewe sent video from that show to its board, which led to her selection. Andy Frisard, the krewe's treasurer and bingo manager as well as one of its sponsors, described Anderson as someone who has an amazing personality and is always smiling.
A Milestone Season for a Once All-Male Krewe
Anderson's appointment lands during a landmark season for Dionysus. The krewe voted to go co-ed and welcome women members, formally establishing the Ladies of Dionysus branch ahead of the 2026-2027 Carnival season and opening float-riding membership to women for $425 in annual dues, according to the Krewe of Dionysus. Founded in 1985 by a group of Northshore businessmen who wanted a family-oriented Carnival parade for Slidell, the organization had operated as an all-male riding krewe for four decades before that vote. According to Time Magazine, New Orleans krewes remained separated along racial and gender lines, with the article noting their relative exclusivity as recently as 1991.
Anderson is no stranger to Slidell's Carnival scene. She previously rode in the Olde Towne Kids Mardi Gras Day parade using a wagon-sized float, part of a Fat Tuesday tradition where more than 100 decorated wagons pulled by families roll through the historic district, per St. Tammany Fire Protection District #1. Outside of Carnival season, the same NOLA.com report notes she plays on a swing and trampoline and rides bikes with her cousin, and she likes art, the library and recess at school.
The Grand Marshal Role's Roots in Post-Katrina Renewal
The grand marshal tradition Anderson is stepping into carries weight beyond a single parade. In September 2005, the Dionysus board met in a gutted home in Eden Isles and decided to parade in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina, according to Andrew Frisard's account shared on Facebook. Christopher Condon served as the 2006 grand marshal; his parents said his krewe jacket was one of his prized possessions, and he died about five years after that parade.
The 2027 parade will carry a road trip theme when it rolls through Slidell's traditional route on Jan. 31, starting at Spartan Drive and Highway 11, then traveling to Highway 190/Gause Boulevard and ending near Kensington Boulevard, per the Krewe of Dionysus. The krewe typically fields more than 350 members and around 18 floats, including 11 double-deckers, according to Mardi Gras New Orleans. Anderson will share a float with Ty and Alyssa Anderson, her parents, as well as with Cheyenne Brooks, Emery Schoonover and Aiden Brooks. The krewe will provide special throws for her to toss to the crowd along the route.
What Comes Before Parade Day
Before she takes her spot in the lineup, Anderson plans to attend the Dionysus Ball on Sept. 12, where she will wear a new golden yellow dress. Her mother, Alyssa Anderson, recalled that Ruby's best throw from a past parade was a giant stuffed tiger that was almost as big as she was. During last year's Carnival festivities, Ruby also displayed a Mardi Gras-themed manicure, a small detail that captured the same enthusiasm now propelling her toward the head of the 2027 procession.
Dionysus rolls alongside St. Tammany Parish Carnival krewes, including the Krewe of Poseidon, the Krewe of Antheia and the Krewe of Bilge, according to Visit The Northshore. Fat Tuesday falls on Feb. 9 in 2027, giving the Northshore an unusually condensed 34-day Carnival season running from Twelfth Night through the finale, according to WWL-TV reports.
