With themes from "Jurassic Bark" to "2001: A Dog Odyssey," the Krewe of Barkus dog parade has been a highlight of Mardi Gras in New Orleans since 1993, the "Welcome to the Flea Market" year. And most of its kings and queens -- although pampered pooches now -- once lived a dog's life on the streets.
The story is much the same for the Northwest Arkansas Krewe of Barkus, founded almost a decade ago by Chaddie Kumpe Platt and the staff at Dog Party, a Springdale doggie day care and boarding facility -- and often a foster home for dogs awaiting adoption.
FAQ
Fat Saturday Parade of Fools
WHEN — 2 p.m. Saturday
WHERE — From the Fayetteville square to Dickson Street
COST — Free
INFO — fayettevillemardigr…
FYI
Eureka Gras
Krewe of Krazo Parade — 2 p.m. Saturday with the theme “Hooray for Hollywood,” downtown Eureka Springs
Mayor’s Ball — 7 p.m. Saturday, Basin Park Hotel, $35 at reserveeureka.com/a…
New Orleans Jazz Brunch — 11 a.m. Sunday, Crescent Hotel
Saint ‘Lizbeth King Cake Ball — 5 p.m. Tuesday, St. Elizabeth Parish Center at 232 Passion Play Road, $80 per couple at 253-8864 or 253-4503
INFO — eurekaspringsmardig…
"[My husband] Charlie and I were king and queen of Mardi Gras in Fayetteville in 2005," says Platt, "so we'd already been involved. And we thought we'd do a float and put some kids and some dogs on it."
They tried chicken wire and tissue, then papier mache, attempting to make a giant dog head, she remembers.
"It was such a mess -- and really funny!
"Then we got the idea of making a dog house, so we took a trailer, put a fence around it and painted faces of dogs along the sides. Every year, we have a dog king and queen, and they sit in the back in chairs and 'wave.'
"Now it's evolved to where every year we have a big Halloween party," she adds, "so we come up with a theme for that and make costumes, and we carry it over."
Themes in the past have included "Dog House Rock," "Alice in Wonderland," and last year was Disney. The theme for the Fat Saturday Parade of Fools is "Happy Tails Ever After" -- fairy tales such as "The Three Little Pugs" and a bulldog as Humpty-Dumpty.
"One of our employees at Dog Party, Kylee Ramsey, is a very talented artist, so she's done these wonderful pictures," Platt says. "She just does it freestyle. It's amazing."
Platt will be Snow White, joined by "at least 20 dogs." Event spokeswoman Lee Ann Kendrick promises there will also be "a colorful mix of beads, costumed revelers and festive floats" as the parade rolls from the Fayetteville square to Dickson Street.
As the event celebrates 25 years, "the merriment concludes on Dickson Street with the Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday celebration with the Demented Krewe," Kendrick adds. "The evening offers lots of grownup fun, with live Cajun music from Billy Zydeco at 7:30 p.m. and coronation of the new king and queen at 8 p.m. hosted by Farrell's on Dickson," then a traditional foot parade wanders Dickson Street starting at 8:30 p.m. and ending at George's Majestic Lounge for a free show by Mountain Sprout.
-- Becca Martin-Brown
NAN What's Up on 02/05/2016