Celebrate “Pawp” Culture at Annual Mardi Paws Parade Happiest Yappiest Mardi Gras Parade 2pm 3/6
February 28, 2022 • Trends • Most Popular
Celebratory pups and the people who love them can participate in the most exciting tail-end to the Carnival season on Sunday, March 6, as hundreds of dogs get to go for the world’s best walk as part of the 28th annual Mardi Paws parade.
This year’s theme is “‘80s Pawp Culture,” which means that the canine krewe and their human escorts will pay homage to the movies, TV shows, music, toys and fads from the ‘80s. Expect plenty of neon and big hair as participants come to celebrate everything from “The Breakfast Club” to “Thriller” and Cabbage Patch Dolls to Rubik’s Cubes.
Dogs must be dressed in a fetching costume that reflects the ‘80s theme, and floats can be made of wagons, baby strollers, shopping carts … nearly any non-motorized, wheeled object will do the trick. Judges will award prizes in a variety of categories, and some lucky pups will even take home the coveted Poop Trophies! Spectators go totally mutts over the specialized “throws,” which include the traditional cups, doubloons and beads you find at other parades, but also stuffed animals and the royal court’s famed gold and glittered rubber dog poops.
Speaking of the court, the 2022 Royal Hairs were just announced. They include:
- Queen Currie Bloom, Mardi Paws XXVIII
- Lady in Waiting Bondi Rose Richard
- Maid Belle Hunter
- Scepter Bearer to Her Majesty Maggie Lowe Dame London Richard
- King Duke Sprang, Mardi Paws XXVIII
- Grand Duke Bijou Charleston Thomas
- Archduke Kiser G. Pasha Taheri
- Duke Riseaux Lemarie’
- Scepter Bearer to His Majesty Ziggy Chapuis
Since its inception in 1994, the Mardi Paws parade has been a fundraiser for nonprofits that help canines and kids in the community. The current beneficiary is Scott’s Wish, which has been serving people and pets since 2008. Last fall Scott’s Wish introduced a new element, “In Honor of Duco,” which honors elite military dogs who served our country and raises funds to assist with the very specialized medical care they may need after their military service.
This year’s Celebrity K9, MPC Layka, is a recent recipient of funds from the Duco project. Layka, the first dog to receive the Medal of Heroism since World War II, is an 11-year-old Belgian Malinois. She’s credited with saving the life of her handler, U.S. Army Ranger Julian McDonald, and those of his teammates during a gunfight with an enemy combatant in Afghanistan in 2012 even after she was shot and gravely wounded. Layka has been featured on the cover of National Geographic and in the HBO documentary “War Dog: A Soldier’s Best Friend.” She’s also credited as an inspiration for the Channing Tatum film “Dog,” debuting in theaters on February 18.
Parade paw-ticipants can pre-register at www.MardiPaws.com, though they can also sign up on site on March 6.There’s a $25 registration fee per dog, and up to six humans can accompany their canine companion. Human escorts are encouraged to dress to suit the theme, too. So, dig out that old Member’s Only jacket and some leg warmers, make a note in your Trapper Keeper – Sunday, March 6 – and set your Swatch to 2 p.m. and head to downtown Covington, which offers plenty of parking (read: less walking!) for participants and spectators alike.
Related blog posts
