NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — For the first time in years, the Rex Parade will not stop for a toast to the Queen of Carnival at the InterContinental Hotel in New Orleans, but instead will toast earlier on the route.
The Rex Organization announced that the Queen of Carnival’s Reviewing Stands will be moved to Pascal’s Manale Restaurant at the corner of Napoleon Avenue and Dryades Street, 11 blocks away from the parade’s start at the corner of Napoleon Avenue and Claiborne Avenue.
The move comes as delays in past years caused the Rex Court to miss a portion of the procession through the city.
Rex Organization leaders said changing the location of the Queen of Carnival’s Reviewing Stands will now allow the Rex Court to view the entire parade.
Rex leaders also say the move is “a step toward ensuring the Rex Parade is completed safely and timely in four hours, by 2:30 pm, which should help all involved, especially the truck float parades that follow the Rex Parade.”
Rex Organization leaders said they look forward to “a safe and fun parade on Mardi Gras 2025” and emphasized the continued traditional toasts between the King of Carnival, the Mayor of New Orleans and New Orleans city officials at Gallier Hall, and the Queen of Carnival at her new location near the start of the parade.
Rex will roll on March 4, 2025.
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