If you enjoy the Red Beans Parade – that legume-loving marching club that celebrates the importance of red beans & rice and carnival every Lundi Gras – then you’ll surely have an appetite for its offshoot, the Dead Beans Parade. Devin DeWulf started the Red Bean Parade in 2008, incorporating elements of a second line and Mardi Gras Indian tribes into a walking parade which takes place – naturally – on a Monday. Monday has traditionally been the day New Orleanians cook red beans and rice, so Lundi Gras was a natural fit. The krewe’s philosophy is simple. It’s about meeting and socializing with other creative types while celebrating New Orleans’ quirky culture. Members meet on Monday nights to work on their bean-adorned costumes, have a drink, and eat red beans. The elaborate costumes are a point of pride to the group. The first parade consisted of about 20 members, but today it boasts more than five times as many.

The Dead Beans Parade

The Krewe of Red Beans has always had marchers who costume as skeletons – also known as “Dead Beans” – as well as those whose costumes are tributes to celebrities who’ve died in the preceding year. So in order to grow the popular krewe in a way that keeps the marches small and intimate, it made sense to create a separate group called the Dead Beans.

Got kids? The Dead Beans aren’t scary – they’re fun! Carnival-goers of all ages are welcome.

What began as a wonderfully creative way to celebrate Mardi Gras in 2021 (when parades were cancelled due to the pandemic), “house floats” blossomed into a beloved showcase of our collective New Orleans carnival spirit. Some homes were lovingly decorated by our talented local artisans, while others were enthusiastically transformed by residents who poured their hearts into creating magical displays (with all the joy they’d normally bring to their Mardi Gras costumes). Visitors were delighted by these enchanting house floats from near and far, and the movement brought our community together in a way that touched everyone’s hearts. The spirited Krewe of House Floats even made it their beautiful mission to raise money to support friends, neighbors, local culture-bearers, and artists who were most affected by the drop in tourism.

While we see fewer house floats gracing our streets in 2025, those magical months when our homes became canvases for carnival joy will forever hold a special place in our hearts. The few cherished house floats that still appear each carnival season remind us of how our beloved city came together to keep our Mardi Gras spirit shining bright during challenging times. Among these dedicated creators, Stronghold Studios continues to bring their artistic magic to this evolving tradition, crafting spectacular displays that keep this beautiful chapter of New Orleans culture alive.

Want to experience the wonder for yourself? Check out the Official 2025 House Float Map to find these delightful displays throughout the city, or fill out the House Float Request Form to bring some carnival magic to your own home!”

Mardi Gras “House Floats”