170 MARDI GRAS GUIDE 2020

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The Krewe of Athena Carnival Club, Inc., was established in March of 2014. Spear-headed by a group of Mardi Gras veterans, Athena was born out of the desire to create a Mardi Gras krewe open to professional women from diverse backgrounds. The Krewe of Athena Carnival Club, Inc., exists to promote a sense of community through sisterhood, service, fellowship, and fun. www.kreweofathena.org

ATHENA

This new female krewe in Metairie takes its name from Greek mythology. As the fi rst wom-an created, Pandora was endowed with beau-ty and cunning. She married Epimetheus, the foolish younger brother of Prometheus. When he had received her into his house, because of her curiosity, Pandora opened the pithos (storage jar) which Zeus had given her as a wedding present and told her not to open. This released the swarm of evil spirits trapped within, which would ever afterwards plague mankind. But Pandora closed the box quickly and trapped Hope inside. This new krewe is not affi liated with the popular Gentilly-based female krewe by the same name that paraded in New Orleans from 1968 until 1994. www.kreweofpandora.org

PANDORAThe 200 female members of the Krewe of Pandora call themselves “The Jewels

of Jefferson Parish.” The club is the sister krewe of the popular Nyx parade in New Orleans, the largest of all parading krewes. Pandora debuted in 2016 on Lundi Gras, took one year off and returned in 2018. The parade now is part of an all-female double-header in Metairie on Sunday, February 23. This year’s queen is Mrs. Rhonda Murphy Ellender, Lady Pandora III. The 16-fl oat parade entitled HINDSIGHT IS 20-20, features the Rhythm on the Route band contest. Pandora’s signature throws will be hand-decorated, lighted boxes. Other throws include lighted baseball caps, pop sockets, logo plush spears, makeup sponges, koozies, cups, and box-shaped and key-shaped doubloons. Pandora does not have a king. The ball is scheduled for January 18 at the Crystal Plantation.

The sixth annual parade of the Krewe of Athena rolls in Metairie with a 22-fl oat procession and 475 female riders. This year’s theme is KREWE OF ATHENA…

IN LIVING COLOR. Floats that portray the theme include Purple Rain, Pink Panther, and Moulin Rouge. Queen Athena VI is Allison Hope Stein, and Perry L. Alexis Jr. reigns as King of Athena VI. Riding as Grand Marshal is Raynell “Supa Cent” Steward. Signature throws include lighted cups, Athena dolls, and custom designed and deco-rated Fedoras. The parade features more than 50 units and trophies are presented to the winners of the annual band contest. Athena’s fl oats are constructed by Phil Fricano, with costumes by Opulent Designs. The Coronation Ball will be held on January 19, 2020, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans.

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