BE MARDI GRAS.
BE MARDI GRAS.
New Orleans’ favorite inclusive Mardi Gras parade.
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Parade:
WE ROLL January 30, 2027!
Whether you’re riding with the
Krewe, or a dedicated parade reveler, join us on the “First Saturday” Of Mardi Gras as we roll on the Traditional Uptown Parade Route!
SHORTY GRAS:
WE HOST this annual
music fest post-parade!
The Krewe of Freret and Shorty Gras are working hard to secure the 2027 lineup for this amazing event. Stay tuned!
RIDE WITH US!
Start here…
Ride with the Krewe of Freret as it hosts another Membership Year and its 13th annual parade down historic St. Charles Avenue on January 30,2027!
In addition to being a part of the most popular parade of the 1st weekend, you get:
Safety harness and mask for your ride included
Streamlined Load-In day praised for its efficiency and super fun atmosphere
Pre-party at Mardi Gras World with food/drinks/music and more!
General Admission to Shorty Gras included
10-20 signature throws to decorate and throw to an adoring crowd.
Open events such as Game Day watch parties, wine-tastings, mask decorating parties and the Royal Coronation Ball.
Plus, private Member-Only events such as Krewe mixers, the Captain’s Cocktail Hour and the Queen’s Brunch (additional fee) and even more! We certainly get you in the mood for Carnival Season!
Costume not included. If you are a previous rider, we encourage you to use yours from last year. If you need a new costume, you may purchase online at a discount until January 6th. All riders who show up to Load In without a costume will have to purchase one on-site for $75.
*THROW PACKAGE PURCHASE REQUIREMENT
As a part of membership, the Krewe of Freret requires each rider to purchase a Krewe-branded throw package prior to King’s Day (January 6th) in order to ride.
Why do we do this?
**PURCHASING MULTIPLE MEMBERSHIPS
If you’re purchasing a membership for someone else, please complete a separate transaction for each person.
Be sure to use their personal email address for the initial registration and in the SHIPPING/BILLING section. This ensures they can access and manage their own member portal.
If you register someone else using your own login information, their membership will remain under your account and you will be responsible for managing it.
Memberships and tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Mardi Gras Special:
$645.00
Early Bird Rate:
$695.00
(until 9/7/27)!
Regular Dues:
$795.00
(until 12/31/26)
AFTER 1/1/27 Dues:
$895.00
Then unlock this optional add-on!
As our Sustainability Advisor, Boyfriend’s goal is to make her float the greenest riding experience in Mardi Gras! We truly believe our efforts are setting the standard in making parade culture better for our city, our planet, and the future.
The fees for this special upgrade will include:
our most sustainable throw package to date, prioritizing high value and including fan favorite items such as hats and ferrets
a professional photographer
a bespoke DJ set from a local act
basic food & beverage offerings that eliminate waste
dedicated events with Boyfriend to decorate signature throws.
Please note this is not a riding membership, it is an upgrade experience for those who have already registered to ride with the Krewe. You can do that HERE first.
*THROW PACKAGE PURCHASE REQUIREMENT
As a part of membership, the Krewe of Freret requires each rider to purchase a Krewe-branded throw package prior to King’s Day (January 6th) in order to ride. Purchasing and participating in this upgrade package fulfills that requirement for you!
**REMINDER ABOUT PURCHASING FOR OTHERS:
If you’d like to also purchase someone else’s upgrade for them, we ask that you please purchase it/them in a separate transaction using their own email address and info as it corresponds to their personal member portal. Otherwise, please note that everything will be under your member portal and you will be responsible for multiple members and all their purchases.
Memberships and tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Membership Includes: riding mask, safety harness, 10 signature throws, email updates, members-only events, and more!
The Boyfriend Float Experience is an add-on that can only be redeemed once a 2027 Membership is purchased.
Our Story
In 2011…
the Krewe of Freret began with seven Loyola graduates who wanted to preserve the Mardi Gras tradition, unify enthusiastic young professionals, support local industry, and infuse vigor into Carnival while revitalizing the Freret corridor.
Today, the Krewe is known for creating a unique and inclusive parade favoring sustainable throws, local vendors, artists, and entertainers.
Members hand-decorate Mardi Gras Masks as coveted signature throws and since inception, KoF has supported local music.
In 2020,
the Krewe of Freret formed a long-term partnership with legendary float builder Kern Studios to help evolve the Krewe into the next Super Krewe. This collaboration introduced the largest float prop in Mardi Gras history—a giant bust of Grand Marshal Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews.
That same year, the Krewe debuted its “Music of New Orleans” themed parade, featuring iconic performers like Preservation Hall and Arcade Fire.
The night culminated in the first annual Shorty Gras, a high-energy celebration that fuses the spectacle of Mardi Gras with a world-class music festival, curated and headlined by Trombone Shorty himself.
Since that inaugural event, Shorty Gras has become an annual highlight of Carnival season, blending the energy of a live concert with the revelry of Mardi Gras. Each year, the Krewe continues to celebrate the spirit of New Orleans with parade themes rooted in the city’s rich musical legacy.
The parade has grown to feature an ever-expanding lineup of signature floats honoring beloved local artists including Boyfriend, Big Freedia, Juvenile, and Irma Thomas—each float a tribute to the unique sound and soul of the Crescent City.
#BeMardiGras
Our Krewe slogan “Be Mardi Gras” is an open invitation to join Mardi Gras’s best inclusive Membership-based Riding Krewe.
Our Founders initially realized that riding in a Mardi Gras parade was mostly inaccessible to non-native New Orleanians, and even tourists. The reality is that there are so many people who love Mardi Gras all over the world who would jump at the chance to ride in a parade if given the opportunity, and therefore riding should not be something only available to native New Orleanians.
This is how #BeMardiGras came to be not only our slogan, but our mantra.
Krewe of Freret was founded on the notion that being involved in a Mardi Gras Krewe should not be exclusive and invite-only, and that riding in a Mardi Gras parade should be something that is open to everyone!
What happens next? Sign up for emails to find out.