Krewe of Tucks
The Krewe of Tucks is an organization that parades during New Orleans Mardi Gras, on the Saturday before Mardi Gras. It is known for its irreverence and satirical floats, including the King's Throne, a giant toilet, as well as the Queen of Tucks, surrounded by her maids dressed in "French Maid" fashion. Other unique signature floats include "The Funky Tucks" which is a 3-Float Tandem which boasts cages flocking each corner of the float with Cage Dancers inside. Notable floats include Naughtyham, Robin Hood, Ye Royal Outhouse and Ye Royal Bath (the only float in Mardi Gras with a giant functioning slide into a giant hot-tub).
In 2018, The Krewe of Tucks will celebrate its 50th anniversary, a milestone which has been in the planning for years. Included in this celebration are the creation of 4 new floats, as well as, an animated TUCKS 50th anniversary signature float which will not be unveiled until parade day.
Tucks began in 1969 as a group of Loyola University students applied for a parade permit. The club takes its name from Friar Tuck's, an Uptown New Orleans local gathering hole and pub, where two college students decided to create their own Carnival krewe after unsuccessfully trying to become white flambeaux carriers. The parade has grown from a small nighttime parade of pick-up trucks and boats pulled on trailers, into a procession of major proportions. In 1983 the parade became a daytime event and in 1986 the parade route finally stretched to downtown. Past Kings include John Candy and Eugene Levy. Notable riders have included The Blues Brothers, WWF Wrestlers, MTV's: The Real World New Orleans Cast, Rob Dyrdek, from MTV's fantasy factory, and Bravo reality star, Stassi Schroeder.
The Tucks parade begins on Napoleon Avenue, runs down St. Charles Avenue, and ends on Canal Street where the post-parade blowout, the Tucks Extravaganza, kicks into high gear. Leading up to parade day, the Krewe hosts several events, fundraisers and community service projects throughout the city for members to attend. Most notably, the Krewe has recently partnered with Magnolia Community Services, an organization and school dedicated to helping special needs students work with Tucks in designing Signature Throw Items. in 2017, the students from Magnolia created over 10,000 hand decorated Plungers which went into the hands of all Mardi Gras Revilers on parade day. Notably, past performers include the Funky Meters, Dr. John, Irma Thomas and The Rascals.
Even though the club has grown in size and stature with 1300+ riders, Tucks has not lost its sense of humor and maintains its "Animal House" reputation.
The Krewe of Tucks Motto is "Booze, Beer, Bourbon, Broads".
Depictions in media
The Tucks Parade was depicted in "Confused & Abused", the fifth episode of the MTV reality television series The Real World: New Orleans, which aired in 2010. In the episode, the cast rode a float in the Tucks Parade.[1][2]
References
External links
- Krewe of Tucks website
- facebook.com/kreweoftucks