Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler at the Marigny Cultural Funhouse with Tributes to Mardi Gras Traditions, Legends, and Krewes Starting January 22
NEW ORLEANS – Break out the face paint, throw on some sequins, don a purple wig and make your way to JAMNOLA to celebrate carnival! The can’t-miss experience starts Friday, Jan. 22, and will be on display through Sunday, Feb. 21.
The team pays tribute to carnival culture with over-the-top installations from new and current JAMNOLA artists. Walk through an intricate archway (“Arc D’JAM”) from artists Robin Durand and Breanna Thompson, transforming the entrance of JAMNOLA on Royal St., to larger than life Mardi Gras beads and brass band silhouettes. All of that before you enter the first room.
Additional features and activities include:
- Tributes: JAMNOLA will celebrate what makes a New Orleans Mardi Gras unique with tributes to the legends and krewes that made it all happen. The digital collage in Who Dot? will transform to honor the late Big Chief Tootie Montana of the Yellow Pocahontas and “Mr. Mardi Gras” Blaine Kern Sr. who passed away this past year. The collage will feature multiple photos of the Big Chief in full regalia, as well as Kern and the outstanding floats designed by Kern Studios.
The Costume Closet, a room that you’ll find Mardi Gras elements in throughout the year, will feature a shrine to Mardi Gras krewes by artist Shel Roumillat. The JAMNOLA team invites krewe members to add a piece of Mardi Gras memorabilia to the shrine daily. Get a look at favorite and prized throws from super krewes to walking krewes.
- Floats & Figures:
JAMNOLA artist and float designer Skye Erie will be adding a mini float in the Costume Closet, a permanent addition. The float will be the back of a Mississippi riverboat with two mermaids looking for a kiss.
Krewe du Vieux is throwing back to three Mardi Gras parades by lending nine figures to JAMNOLA. The fan-favorite figures include the Ruth Bader Ginsburg boxing champ, everyone’s favorite yats Vic and Nat’ly, and the five-piece Fly Brass Band.
- Throws: Don’t leave empty-handed from JAMNOLA. Get your hands on a commemorative go-cup, featuring a QR code that provides you with a map to the Krewe of House Floats and discounts to bars and restaurants so you can keep the celebrations going, as well as a special doubloon.
The gift shop will also have a DIY umbrella kit, limited edition tie-dye king cake baby shirt, and king cakes from Bywater Bakery.
- Lagniappe: The Sound Garden welcomes new proximity cymbals by Marcus Brown, playing recorded sounds from Roots of Music’s marching band. The room will also add ‘Sound Wave Super Bloom,’ made of over 500 recycled vinyl records melted into flowers – an art installation from artists Rachael Arrington and Michael Quinlan. Both additions are permanent.
If that’s not enough, JAMNOLA will also celebrate and raise money for nonprofits who are instrumental in keeping the culture of New Orleans alive, including Roots of Music, The New Orleans Musicians Clinic, and Feed The Second Line.
TICKETS: General admission tickets are $29 for adults and $20 for children. Kids ages 2 & under are free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.jamnola.com. Ticket reservations are required; no walk-ins.
Guests and artists/staff must submit to temperature checks upon arrival and will be required to wear masks throughout the experience. Since opening in August, JAMNOLA has operated from Phase 1 guidelines set by the City of New Orleans. Tours are limited to six guests at a time to ensure proper social distancing. For more information, visit jamnola.com/pages/safety-guidelines.
WHEN: The Mardi Gras celebrations kick off Friday, Jan. 22, and run through Feb. 21.
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