NEW ORLEANS (press release) – BankPlus, along with Beads By The Dozen, Mardi Gras World and Bud Light, will sponsor the Samedi Gras festival and the live broadcast of the Endymion Extravaganza during the 2024 Carnival season.
“Endymion is the carnival parade that everyone wants to see and wants to be a part of, from marveling their lighted, super-sized floats, to spending the day and night enjoying music and entertainment, all while hoping to catch that special throw from one of Endymion’s many celebrity riders,” said Jeff Ehlinger, executive vice president and Louisiana president for BankPlus. “Having the opportunity to nurture a working relationship with this krewe, this symbol of New Orleans’ Carnival, means a great deal to those of us at BankPlus who have fond memories of Endymion over the years.”
Considered a Super Krewe, Endymion’s 3,200 members’ parade rolls on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday with more than 80 floats. The celebration kicks off hours before the parade starts on Saturday with Samedi Gras, the krewe’s pre-parade block party featuring live music, food, and beverages, drawing more than 30,000 revelers from Mid-City neighborhoods.
Endymion’s intricately designed floats use the latest fiber optic and LED lighting, confetti machines, accent lighting and animated props. The parade route rolls through Mid-City and downtown, ending at the New Orleans Convention Center with the krewe’s afterparty, the Endymion Extravaganza. Dressed in formal attire, up to 20,000 attend the Extravaganza yearly, dancing the night away to music performed by the best local and celebrity guest entertainers. This year’s Extravaganza will feature musical performances by 17-time Grammy winner Sting, as well as Flo Rida, The Mixed Nuts, Groovy 7 and The Wiseguys.
“Endymion is an iconic institution in New Orleans that exemplifies the joy of the carnival season,” said Dan Kelly, president of Endymion and Beads By The Dozen. “We look forward to many more years of partnering with BankPlus for these special events.”
The Endymion parade begins at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, February 10, at City Park and Marconi Avenue. The Samedi Gras celebration kicks off at noon, Saturday February 10, at Orleans Avenue between Carrollton and City Park Avenue.
For those who can’t make it to the parade route or the afterparty, WVUE-TV will broadcast a live presentation of the parade and Extravaganza on Saturday, February 10, from 8-11 p.m.
For more information about Endymion and its hosted events, visit their website at Endymion.org.