What is a Mardi Gras Krewe?
What Is a Mardi Gras Krewe — And How Do You Start (or Join) One?
If you’ve ever caught beads on a Friday night in Southeast Texas, you’ve witnessed the magic of a Mardi Gras krewe. But what exactly is a krewe—and how can you get involved?
Let’s break it down.
What’s a Mardi Gras Krewe?
A “krewe” (pronounced “crew”) is a social organization that comes together to celebrate Mardi Gras. They typically participate in parades, host events throughout the year, and bring a unique theme or flair to the party. Some krewes go all-out with costumes, music, and floats, while others keep it simple and focus on camaraderie.
No matter their size or style, krewes are the heartbeat of Mardi Gras—and new ones are always welcome!
Want to Start Your Own Krewe?
You don’t have to be a professional event planner or have a massive budget to start a krewe. Here’s what you do need:
1. An Idea and a Crew
Start with a small group of friends who share a common theme, interest, or just a love for Mardi Gras. Give your krewe a name that represents your spirit!
2. Krewe Application
Each krewe will need to submit an Affiliation Letter and create their own application form (you can use Aurora’s krewe application as a sample). The form should include a rider release section—that’s non-negotiable.
3. Board or Leadership Team
While some groups prefer to keep it casual, experience shows that krewes with at least a basic leadership structure last longer and run more smoothly. A board helps coordinate activities, manage funds, and keep the good times rolling.
4. Set Your Dues
Each krewe sets its own membership dues. These funds can cover float decorations, t-shirts, party costs, and more.
Perks of Being a Krewe
FREE float rental for your first year
(After year one, it’s a flat $1,000 rental fee annually.)No parade fees—ever.
Your float represents your krewe, and if you have a sponsor, their name can be featured too (with approval).Listing on the Mardi Gras SETX website
Once your krewe has a name, logo, and key info, we’ll help get the word out!
Find a Sponsor (Optional But Encouraged)
While not required, having a business sponsor can go a long way. Every float, feather, and festivity costs something—and every dollar helps.
Mardi Gras SETX offers a powerful option: For just 25% of what your sponsor contributes, your krewe gets access to high-impact advertising for your sponsor—TV, digital, radio, and more.
For example:
A $2,500 sponsorship = $625 advertising fee
A $4,000 sponsorship = $1,000 advertising fee
That leaves you with a good chunk of change to bring your krewe’s vision to life—without lifting a finger on the marketing side.
Mardi Gras is about fun, creativity, and community.
Whether you’re riding in a float, dancing on the street, or helping organize behind the scenes, there’s a place for you in the krewes of SETX.
Have questions? Need the sample application? Ready to get started? Shoot us a message—we’d love to help bring your krewe to life.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!