Believe it or not, the start of the 2026 Mardi Gras season is just five months away. When Feb. 6 arrives, the first float parade to hit the streets will be the Krewe of Oshun, which may have a new role in New Orleans’ Carnival celebration.

During a press conference at Mardi Gras World on Wednesday, the new captain of Oshun, Gian Durand , said that the 30-year-old krewe plans to allow children as young as 6 to ride with their parents on parade floats.

Durand said that to her knowledge, there is “no other family krewe in New Orleans,” that mixes kids among other float riders, not counting the truck parades that conclude Carnival on Fat Tuesday.

In other krewes, children can serve as maids and pages. But, Durand said, in future Oshun parades any child will be able to be a float rider,

See Full Page