Krewe of Orpheus
The Lundi Gras super krewe co-founded by Harry Connick Jr., and the first to welcome men and women alike.
- Usual slot
- Lundi Gras (Monday) evening, after Proteus
- Usual start
- about 6 p.m. (check the year's schedule)
- Route
- Uptown St. Charles route, ending at the Convention Center (Orpheuscapade)
- Founded
- 1993; first parade 1994
- Signature throws
- Decorated tambourines; signature float Leviathan
- Official site
- www.kreweoforpheus.com
History
Orpheus was founded in 1993 by Harry Connick Jr., his father Harry Connick Sr. and Sonny Borey, and first rolled on Lundi Gras 1994. It was named for the musician of Greek myth, and music is its theme.
It was the first super krewe to admit both men and women as members. Its fibre-optic-lit Leviathan float, a sea serpent, is one of the best-known floats in Carnival.
If the usual slot holds Usual pattern, not announced
Usual slot: Lundi Gras (Monday) evening, after Proteus. Tied to Fat Tuesday, that slot gives these dates. They are projections, not a schedule: confirm on the krewe's site or the city's Mardi Gras page before you travel.
| Carnival | Usual-slot date | Fat Tuesday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Mon 16 Feb | Tue 17 Feb |
| 2027 | Mon 8 Feb | Tue 9 Feb |
| 2028 | Mon 28 Feb | Tue 29 Feb |
| 2029 | Mon 12 Feb | Tue 13 Feb |
| 2030 | Mon 4 Mar | Tue 5 Mar |
| 2031 | Mon 24 Feb | Tue 25 Feb |
| 2032 | Mon 9 Feb | Tue 10 Feb |
| 2033 | Mon 28 Feb | Tue 1 Mar |
| 2034 | Mon 20 Feb | Tue 21 Feb |
| 2035 | Mon 5 Feb | Tue 6 Feb |
Recent parades: 2025: 3 Mar 2025; 2026: 16 Feb 2026 (published city schedules). Both fell exactly on the usual slot.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krewe_of_Orpheus (founders; first parade; membership; Leviathan; checked 2026-10-26)
History written for this site from the sources above. Parade dates for 2025 and 2026 from published city schedules.