Mardi Gras: Phunny Phorty Phellows January 6, 2008

On the Eve of the NCAA National Championship Football game in New Orleans, the Phunny Phorty Phellows take to the streets to Herald the arrival of the 2008 Mardi Gras season to all parts of the Cresent City from Historic Mid-City, The CBD, and Uptown by traversing the Canal and St. Charles Streetcar lines. The path taken by the group this year is the longest route by any Carnival Organization in New Orleans.

Because the Phellows’ traditional St. Charles streetcar path is still undergoing repair, the group will break precedent on Sunday January 6 and begin their ride at Beauregard Circle on N. Carrollton near City Park down Canals St. and up the recently reopened section on the St. Charles streetcar line in what is now being called THE ROUTE OF THE GENERALS.

The costumed and masked krewe will assemble on the neutral ground in front of City Park (at North Carrollton next to Beaureguard Circle) at 6:30pm and will board the streetcar at 7pm sharp.

The Phellows are an historic Mardi Gras organization that first took to the streets 1878 through 1898. They were known for their satirical parades and today¹s krewe members’ costumes often reflect topical themes. The group was revived in 1981.

One Carnival historian has referred to the organization as the “Dessert of Carnival.”

Official Website: http://www.phunnyphortyphellows.com