Krewe of Carnivale en Rio

In its third year rolling through the streets of the Hub City, the Rio Parada set the pace for Mardi Gras crowd-pleasing in Lafayette by staging the city's first parade of the season on SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2008, starting at 6:30 pm from Pontiac Point. Click here for Parade Route Map.

Our "Duquesa du Parada" or Parade Marshal was Ali Landry, TV and film actress as well as Miss USA 1996. She appeared atop the red fire truck at the beginning of the Parada. The krewe was thrilled to host her,  and especially proud of our Cajun girl (yep, she graduated from Cecilia High and USL) who's made it in Hollywood. Hear her interview with KATC-TV 3 on Parada night.

Additionally, the krewe held a terrific "Trip-to-the-Rio" Contest which our parade-goers greeted with great enthusiasm! Here's a photo of the special bead, 50 of which hold a chance to win a 4 day-3 night trip to the Rio Resort in Las Vegas. Listen in to radio station KSMB on Friday, Feb 1, 2008 to find out whose name gets drawn for the trip!

Spectacular new floats, fourteen owned by the krewe, hit the streets that night. With a total of 20 floats, 2 fire trucks and nearly 600 riders, the krewe was armed with over 60 tons of the coolest collection of beads and throws for South Louisiana parade-goers of all ages. We also threw 6,000 Rio dolls, our featured throw for 2008. 

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

Heart-pounding samba sounds were 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  entertained the Parada crowd.