Krewe of Carnivale en Rio

In its FOURTH YEAR rolling through the streets of the Hub City, the Rio Parada sets the pace for Mardi Gras crowd-pleasing in Lafayette by staging the city's first parade of the season on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2009, VALENTINE'S DAY, starting at 6:30 pm from Pontiac Point. Click here for the PARADE ROUTE MAP.

To find our Duque du Parada or "Parade Marshal" this year, we teamed up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Through their efforts, we found 10-yr-old Cameron Blanchard of Lafayette, ready to be our honoree. Cameron underwent three years of chemotherapy for leukemia and is now in remission. Look for Cameron, our Duque du Parada, on the big red fire truck, leading our fourth annual Parada.

Additionally, the krewe is holding a terrific "TRIP-TO-THE-RIO CONTEST" ! Try to catch one of our 1,000 special contest beads, only FIFTY of which hold a chance for the bearer to win a 4 day-3 night trip to the Rio Resort in Las Vegas. Listen in to radio station 94.5 KSMB for more details!

Spectacular new floats, eighteen owned by the krewe, will hit the streets that night. With a total of 20 floats, 2 fire trucks and nearly 600 riders, the krewe will be armed with over 60 tons of the coolest collection of beads and throws for South Louisiana parade-goers of all ages. We also throw 6,000 Rio dolls, our featured throw for 2009. 

Floats in the Rio Parada are decorated with a myriad of Brazilian themes. The Copacabana, the Amazon River, the Brazilian Flag, Carmen Miranda...all make appearances in the Rio line-up. Riders wear the dazzling sequined costumes of their themed float and throw beads of the same color and trinkets of their theme.

Heart-pounding samba sounds are broadcast LIVE! on KRVS 88.7 FM, the University of Louisiana radio station. In addition to the broadcast beat, a score of marching bands from throughout the Acadiana area  entertain the Parada crowd.

Duques du Parada

2009   Cameron Blanchard

2008    Ali Landry

2007    Erik Estrada

2006    John Schneider