Although there's no official Mardi Gras! Galveston, this year, you can't keep saintly ideas from being bestowed on the masses. For 2021's carnival season, Galveston Island's Krewe of Saints is inviting all krewes, residents, and interested revelers to decorate their homes, porches, yards, etc., in their finest Mardi Gras ephemeral decoration as part of the 2021 Krewe House Floats project.
"We understand and support the decision not to hold Mardi Gras! Galveston this year. This effort is a great way to still safely showcase our community pride in the event and have a lot of fun with it in the process," states Krewe of Saints' Membership Director Will Wright. "For those ready to decorate, the theme of 'Do Watcha Wanna' gives free rein to have fun with their artistic direction. For those looking forward to viewing the work, it should provide a little slice of Mardi Gras' sights and sounds."
Participants are asked to visit kreweofsaints.org and fill out a short form for inclusion on the official map. The final map will be posted on February 1, and the locations will be viewable from Friday, February 5, through Tuesday, February 16. On Saturday, February 13, from 5-7 p.m., sites are encouraged to toss beads, present their work, and interact with viewers' passing in a socially distant manner.
The Galveston Krewe House Floats is part of a larger effort helmed by New Orleans' Krewe of House Floats (KoHF). KoHF is founded under the belief that if people cannot safely gather together on the parade route in 2021, then houses and locations can bring the spirit of the parades home to celebrate in a pandemic-safe manner that supports friends, neighbors, local culture-bearers, and locally owned businesses. Full details are at www.kreweofhousefloats.org. Galveston's krewe is an official subkrewe of the organization as an Expat Krewe.