Focus SB

This year’s Mardi Gras celebrations in Shreveport were a testament to our city’s vibrant spirit and community pride. Our five parades—Krewe of Gemini, Krewe of Centaur, Krewe of Highland, Krewe of Sobek, and Krewe of Harambe—brought excitement and joy to thousands of residents and visitors. Most importantly, our celebrations were safe, well-organized, and a shining example of what makes Shreveport special. This success would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of so many city employees and state partners. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the Shreveport Police Department, Fire Department, SPAR, Public Works, and our state agencies, including Louisiana State Police and Louisiana Probation and Parole. Their efforts ensured that our parades ran smoothly and safely, with low crime and minimal disruptions. A special thank you goes to our Public Works employees, who worked tirelessly long after the last float rolled through. While most of us went home to rest, they remained on the streets, clearing thousands of pounds of beads, cups, and other debris to restore our city to normal. They finished their work after midnight for the Centaur and Gemini parades. Their dedication is why we set a firm end time for the parades—to give them the time they need to complete this massive cleanup effort. I also want to address some questions regarding marching bands. The city did not remove marching bands from any parades. Each krewe determines the composition of units that compromise their respective parades. They manage those units, which could include marching bands or not, to fit within the time deadlines required by the city. The city sets those deadlines considering the public safety and cleanup concerns the parades present. The route for Centaur and Gemini, at nearly six miles, is one of the longest Mardi Gras parade routes in the country.