LOCAL EVENTS
The 12th Annual Krewe of Okeanos Mardi Gras Parade will roll through the historic districts of San Marcos Saturday at noon.
The Krewe puts on the annual parade, with the help of sponsors, as a community-wide celebration of Mardi Gras for San Marcos and its visitors.
The parade will start and end at Jack’s Roadhouse at the corner of Hopkins and Dixon. It will touch on most of the historic districts including Belvin Street, San Antonio Street and MLK (Dunbar Historic District), making it a family event within the neighborhoods.
Molly Ann Rosas-Garcia, Parade Chair, has been working all year on the event and is looking forward to a spectacular Mardi Gras parade.
“This year promises to be a huge parade with many new entries, including several new bands,” she said.
Garcia also anticipated good weather and a host of out-of-town visitors looking for some Mardi Gras fun.
Garcia’s suggestion for the best way to enjoy the parade was simple.
“Make sure you find a nice stop along our route, enjoy the entertainment, dance along in the street, make a new friend or friends, and Laissez les bons temps rouler with the Mistick Krewe of Okeanos,” Garcia said.
La Cima is the parade’s Royal Circle Sponsor, Germer Insurance Services is the Captain’s Circle Sponsor and Divided Sky and Zelick’s are the Founder’s Circle Sponsors. In kind services are provided by Jack’s Roadhouse, and additional grant funding comes from the San Marcos Arts Commission.
According to Diana Baker, one of the Krewe’s founders, this year’s parade will be the best one yet.
“We are expecting record numbers of participants and parade goers this year,” Baker said. “[The parade] will truly be an entertaining show for all to enjoy!”
One of the hallmarks of the Okeanos parade is the emphasis on marching New Orleans style brass bands and other live music. The parade will feature several marching brass bands like Time of Night and Boss Street Brass Band as well as Los Gatos (512) and Two’s a Party.
There will also be lots of floats with riders throwing classic Mardi Gras beads. The Krewe has two signature floats in the parade. The Royal Float will carry King and Queen Okeanos XIII, Mike Dillon and Helen Jackson Franks, while members of the Board of Directors will be riding on the Okeanos Float. The Okeanos debutantes will also be featured in the parade.
Other floats in the parade are the Heritage Association Gazebo float, the Paris Pirate float, the Krewe of Rex Caecus, La Sociedad Cuauhtemoc, the LBJ Museum of San Marcos, and the Mermaid Society. Businesses represented include Divided Sky, South Square, Wineaux, and many more including KnDs Boutique featuring the Wonderworld Train.
Walking, rolling and motorized vehicle units are also among the parade entries, including the Lockhart Lady Jeep-HERs, the San Marcos River Rollers and the Legends of the South Car Club. Be sure to look for the Texas State Sculpture Club featuring papier mache fish headdresses as they march alongside the Okeanos float.
“It is really an idyllic scene,” said Wayne Kraemer, one of the Krewe’s founders and president of the Board of Directors. “You have citizens and visitors laughing and enjoying the beautiful historic districts and welcoming house parties, as the sound of jazz fills the air, and beautifully adorned floats that are works of art pass by as children and adults, with outstretched hands, hope to catch a string of coveted beads. That’s the magic of Mardi Gras!”
For more information about the Krewe of Okeanos, visit their website at mardigrassanmarcos. com or check out their Facebook page at facebook.com/KreweOfOkeanos.
Inquiries about membership in the Krewe can be addressed to kreweofokeanosinformation@ gmail.com.
Map of the Krewe of Okeanos Mardi Gras Parade. Image courtesy of Krewe of Okeanos
