Familiar Faces at Mandeville’s All-Female Eve Parade

Although quiet and serene on a normal day, Mandeville’s streets lit up, filled with families, floats and beads for the 32nd annual Eve Parade.

On Feb. 22, the Northshore’s all-female Eve Parade came to town, tossing beads and stuffed animals to the children, teens and adults screaming below.

Every year, the Eve parade gets bigger and better with various local schools marching, such as Mandeville and Fontainebleau High School, as well as several local organizations like the Roller Derby team and the Mande Milkshakers — the Northshore’s first all-female marching group.

The parade always draws a large crowd, and with many college students returning home for parade season, the parade saw a tremendous turn-out.

“It really brings the whole community together and is a great chance to see the culture of Mardi Gras in a safe and familiar environment,” said Victoria Hamilton, former Abita Springs resident and current University of Southern Mississippi student. “I loved coming to the parade when I lived here, and I’m excited to come back every year to reunite with old friends and catch good throws.”

The idea of the Eve parade began in 1986 when six local residents decided to form a female Mardi Gras Parade Krewe. The Krewe of Eve started with 260 ladies and rolled the following year on Valentine’s Day themed “Famous Lovers.”

Not only does the parade bring old residents back to the town, but draws in some new people as well.

Alabama native and University of Southern Mississippi student Lauren Beverly stated, “I’m not from Mandeville, but it’s super cool to come back with my friends from college to see how they grew up.”

The Eve parade was Beverly’s first Mardi Gras parade, and she said it didn’t disappoint.

“The Eve parade was my favorite part of all the Louisianian things I got to experience, and I think that’s saying something because I had crawfish and king cake for the first time too,” Beverly joked.

The next Eve parade is set on Feb. 14, 2020, and many college students have already set their sights on Mandeville next Valentine’s Day.