Views of the Neighborhood

~ John W. Howell

As most of the Christian world knows last Tuesday was Fat Tuesday which marks the last day before the beginning of Lent. In New Orleans, the event is characterized by the last of the Mardi Gras parades. Not to be outdone Port Aransas Has its own version of a Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras parade. I must tell you that I took over 100 photos of the show and can only give you a representative sample of the participating members. So here is the Mardi Gras parade Port Aransas style.

The parade started with two police cars leading the way

Port Aransas Mardi Gras

This is a photo of some typical participants.  Adult beverages were de rigor.

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The float members were pitching beads and candy to the bystanders.

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Here is a boat theme. Wonder how they got that idea? Notice the guy picking up the beads. He didn’t even have to take off his shirt.

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This is the only photo of the fifty golf carts in the parade. It is typical, and most look similar.

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Another boat. Go figure.

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This Humvee was well decorated. Lots of candy came off this baby.

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This child was very cute, so I kept it in.

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This float is actually a portable bar that visits the beach now and then

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I thought the motorized chair showed a lot of grit and so typical of the spirit of Port Aransas. A big applause was given.

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There is a Parrot Head chapter in Port Aransas. I know a big shock.

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Here is the Chamber of Commerce float and of course the guy is texting and floating. Probably ordering carry out.

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There were some cool cars in the parade like this Camaro.

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This float got the Awwwww award. Seemed strange having innocent children in a celebration of overindulgence. They were cute, though.

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Here’s a red Chevy

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And a custom hot rod from Colorado

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My favorite was this vintage Pontiac. I think it is a 1949 and it is in pristine condition

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The parade ended with the EMS team.

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I hope you like the parade. It was very much fun and I collected a lot of beads and candy as well.

47 thoughts on “Views of the Neighborhood”

  2. We were lucky enough to see one of the parades in St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans this year. The krewes of Orpheus and Proteus threw us beads, paper cups and even a coconut at one point. Great times!

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  6. I loved the parade, John! That golf cart was a riot. And all the beads! *Oh! Shiny!* (Sorry, that’s Teaganese for “Squirrel!” Same effect.)
    I have a pair of leopard pants I can loan you for next year. Have a superb Sunday. Mega hugs.

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      1. LOL, not that they ever leave the house! At least not farther than the curb when I take out the trash. Now a leopard blazer — that’s another story. It definitely leaves the house. 😉

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        1. See, here you see people in PJ’s in the grocery store. (real PJ’s not light blue denim) Also sometimes it is hard to tell swim suits from underwear so could be either. No one cares anyway.

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  11. I love to see the way you guys put your local twist on things. The kid on the skateboard wins my prize. 2nd prize to the Camaro. I also like the float with the kids, built on top of a boat trailer. You gt some handy people down there, John.

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  13. Great parade – I have to admit it rivals Kitchener-Waterloo’s Oktoberfest Parade! I looked carefully to see which float John Cannon rode. Was he the guy in the motorised wheelchair, or was he in the EMS truck? Thanks, John, makes me yearn for some spring – it’s 23 F here today and feels like 10 F with the wind chill. Sigh.

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  17. Love this one, John — takes me back to the parades on the Miss. Gulf Coast during Mardi Gras. I was on one of the floats one year — what a blast that was! — and I’ve certainly grabbed my share of beads and doubloons. You’re right — the kids seem to get into it, too. In fact, the school kids get out on Fat Tuesday along the Coast, so there’s that. Lots of HUGE speakers on your floats!!

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