Laissez les bons temps rouler. (Let the good times roll) This museum was great, it holds the largest display of Mardi Gras costumes in the world. The Mardi Gras Museum is a unique treasure in Lake Charles, LA. It is the central place where traditions, history and artifacts are on display preserving the cultural heritage of the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in Louisiana.
I loved getting to see all the costumes close up. The workmanship on the costumes was exquisite. I can only imagine the amount of work put into each costume. I was informed that costumes can take up to 6 months to create and cost upwards of $10,000 – to be used for only that years Mardi Gras.
I also learned about Krewes. A krewe is any group or organization of revelers to band together to host a Mardi Gras ball, ride on a Mardi Gras parade float and participate in social events throughout the year. In Southwest Louisiana, there are more than 50 krewes, a number that continues to grow each season. Just as one pot of gumbo varies from the next, krewes are formed for many different reasons and one can gain acceptance to a krewe in many different ways.
Footloose & Fancy Free 