'Immense Processions’ and ‘Freaks of Fancy’: A Brief History of Mardi Gras
Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin invites the public to attend the opening of Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland at the Louisiana Old State Capitol on Thursday, September 2 at 5:30 p.m. Dr. Karen Leathem, historian with the Louisiana State Museum system, will present the opening reception entitled ‘Immense Processions’ and ‘Freaks of Fancy’: A Brief History of Mardi Gras. Just as Coney Island represented a shift in public amusement, so too did the evolution of Carnival in Louisiana. From the spontaneous processions of mid-nineteenth century New Orleans to the proliferation of participatory parades such as Spanish Town Mardi Gras and Chewbacchus, find out how Mardi Gras has changed over time, reflecting a unique and dynamic culture.