‘tit Rex Parade

The one time I wish I had a ladder at a parade. ;)
My heart goes out to the craftiness and uniqueness of such parades as this. For most parades, riders can just hop on to these beautifully crafted floats, throw their beads that were put on the float for them, and go to sleep knowing they had a spectacular time with no need to pick up their discarded beer cans, empty bottle of Crown or crumpled Zapp’s potato chips bags off their float. (This is not every rider/​parade, but the case for most).
This parade… each float and throw is handcrafted to go with that year’s theme, and then tugged through the Marigny. Are these body builders who tug colossal floats? Heck no, they’re pe-‘tit floats with miniature decorations.
Logistically, I wish this miniature parade was better lit when it gets dark, rolled just a tad slower, and that I had had a step stool ’cause if you’re not in front, you’re not seeing much. But floats always look better in the dark, and some floats had twinkling lights or the maker was spotlighting with a flashlight.
Next year I will try to catch ‘tit Rex before it gets dark so I can check out what’s going on with the floats more, but props to the people that put together this cute little parade.

Clever and cute. Who doesn’t love a good satirical parade? Remind me next year to stand towards the beginning of the parade route. It took what seemed like an eternity for the parade to arrive at Mandeville St. By that time, it was dark and I couldn’t read the clever float names which made me super mad for waiting around.

Super fun on a small scale with tiny + often handmade throws created by the members of the Krewe. If you’re from here, you may remember making Mardi Gras floats out of shoe boxes as a class assignment during carnival. For me I think it was 4^th grade. As an adult, it is fantastic to see those micro-​floats kicked up a notch and taken to the streets.

LOTS of fun and a great reason to keep your Mardi Gras rhythm moving…(I really only prefer Krewe Du Vieux, Chewbacchus, and ‘tit Rex)
I would certainly recommend being at the start of the parade on St. Roch (and hangout at St Roch Tavern before the «official» start). You’ve got to appreciate the mockery of King Rex. Some of the floats are extremely well-​thought out and ornate, others not so much. The pageantry and satire makes for a great time and the people you’ll meet here will only heighten the experience.
If you catch this parade later in the day, I hope you’re thoroughly lubricated because the crowds down in the Marigny in the evening will be packed and you really won’t be seeing much. That being said, by the time the parade winds down to the end, all the bands will have gathered and provide a great show.

My favorite artist, Joseph Cornell would highly approve of this diorama and miniatures parade. I foolishly stood at the beginning of the route, so much of the parade was a blur of tiny floats as the krewe members pulling them rushed by to make up on time.
My tip would be to catch this parade further along the route. I loved what I saw, but it’s definitely not short people-​friendly, if you know what I mean. Gotta get a spot in the very front and possibly risk offending a child, or you’re not going to see much. I was able to see some of the floats that were on display at Lost Love, and I was pretty blown away by it.
Tiny floats with tiny lights and figures… thoroughly charming. But unless my elfin self can ride one of them floats, it’s better viewed in a museum (or dive bar).

‘tit Rex (pronounced T-​Rex) is a tiny parade. Literally. It’s like watching little dollhouses being pulled on a string by people dressed in tuxes. Luckily, my friends were wearing crazy outfits (almost nothing) and we were offered the last shots of the official drink of the ‘tit Rex parade that year (mudsliiiiides!!). Catch this before Chewbacchus and you’re good to go!

This parade was pretty awesome! I found out about it from Jess R.‘s review and proceeded to harass everyone I knew to come with me.
I was not disappointed. I think this is probably my favorite Mardi Gras parade now, after Krewe of St. Anne. Why only 4 stars then, you ask? I just think that after a few more rolls, this parade will really rock, and I am saving that last star for room to grow. I CAN’T wait for next year y’all!

What is ‘tit Rex, you ask? New Orleans’ only Micro Krewe! You’ve heard of the Super Krewes. Now, we have the opposite: ‘tit Rex! With tiny floats, tiny dubloons, and tiny throws, this parade packs a whole lot of awesome. It’s true that good things come in small packages.
This parade is hysterically witty on so many levels. First of all, an actual parade with floats the size of a breadbox (or smaller) pulled by people with an invisible strand of fishing wire? Amazing. They make teeny, tiny throws like miniature dubloons, some of them are painted pennies, but some are about ¼ the size of that. No idea where you can get something like that made, but apparently it’s possible.
Another reason ‘tit Rex rocks is because of the name. It’s pronounced «Tee Rex» (like T-​Rex, get it?) and ‘tit is short for the French «petit» (which I’m sure you know means small). So it’s nerdy (T-​Rex), local (I know someone who grew up here whose grandmother used to call him ‘tit Earl, because he’s Earl Jr.), and irreverent (‘tit Rex is an obvious play on the most super of the super krewes, Rex). How awesome is that?
This parade is in its third year, and I happened to work with one of the founders in 2009 when ‘tit Rex first took place. Therefore, even though I didn’t make the actual parade, I did get a chance to see some of the floats, and get a behind-​the-​scenes look at the making of a tiny, tiny float. I also got to see the miniature dubloons when they got those made. They’re so cool. I was extremely sad when I didn’t end up catching one the following year when I attended the actual parade.
‘tit Rex is on February 26^th this year, and begins at Bacchanal in the Bywater. It ends at Saturn Bar, and it mostly goes down Burgundy. You can see the parade route on their blog.
I highly, highly recommend you check this parade out. It’s comical. This year, I intend to find a step stool and turn it into a parade ladder. Still haven’t decided whether or not it needs a ladder box, though.