Krewe of Rio is ready to kick off Mardi Gras season in Lafayette, rain or shine Saturday
Although the weather forecasts a slight chance of rain, the Krewe of Rio is ready to let the good times roll down the streets of downtown Lafayette.
Known for its colorful floats, dazzling lights, dancers, energetic music and custom maracas, the Krewe of Rio parade gets the city primed and ready for the main Carnival the following weekend. On Saturday, Rio parada will take its traditional route through downtown Lafayette and onto Johnston Street, ending at Cajun Field.
With Mardi Gras being near Valentines Day, the 2024 theme for the Krewe is "I heart Rio". The royalty court is also paired up in alignment with the theme. The court features the sweetheart couple, love song couple, love story couple, heartbreakers, and the tainted love couple.
With 24 floats in this year's parade, each float will feature a subset of the "I Heart Rio" theme.
"We work with a local vendor, Vacajun for our handmade costumes. Keeping with the Brazilian theme and carnival look, this will be the first year everyone in the krewe will match the floats theme," said board member Jamie Hebert Boudreaux.
Inspired by the spirit of the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, the founders of the Krewe of Rio decided on a Brazilian theme for the krewe.
The Krewe of Carnivale en Rio began when a group of 11 friends decided to bring a new approach to Mardi Gras in Acadiana. In Fall 2005, the Directors of the krewe celebrated the adoption of an ordinance by the Lafayette Consolidated Government that gave the Krewe of Rio the city’s “thumbs-up” to hold its parade two Saturdays before Fat Tuesday. In essence, this makes the Rio Parada the kickoff parade of Mardi Gras in Lafayette.
In addition to the annual extravagant Rio Parada, each year the krewe holds the Rio Ball along with the Spring Crawfish Boil and Summer Sambada Party.
Both the 2024 King, Carl Rachal, and the Queen, Christina Dayries, have been members for more than 10 years. Rachal is the first Black member of Rio's royal court.
"Our krewe focuses on a bright display, and we always have continuous music from float to float which is always appropriate for families. Making sure kids, along with the adults have a good time. Our signature throw, the maracas, are the most memorable. Thousands come out for this Mardi Gras Kick Off event, and some parade goers make their own maracas," Boudreaux said.
The Krewe of Rio rolls at 6:30 p.m., beginning in Downtown Lafayette. Check out more about memberships, and parade routes on the website.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Krewe of Rio kicks off Lafayette's Mardi Gras parades
