About Les Fous

ABOUT LES FOUS DU CARNAVAL

Les Fous du Carnaval is a community of like-minded krewes with shared ideals consisting of the krewes of Flora & Fauna, Krewe of Goddesses, Krewe of Hellarious Wingnuts, The Legendary Order of the Casket Girls, Shimmy Shakti Belly Dance Goddesses, The Mystical Krewe of Aziza, and Bywater Crazy Cat Ladies & Gents. We organized in 2021 and launched our first parade in 2022. We are not bound by a single captain—each inner krewe has equal input and a safe space to shape our future. We are iconoclastic and inclusive and strive to represent the true diversity of our city within our membership except for the local “nobility” who, in the true spirit of the origins of Mardi Gras, can all get bent and keep Carnival equitable, accessible, and affordable for all. We are lovers, not fighters. We bow down to no ruler. We are Carnival of and for the masses.

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ABOUT KREWE OF GODDESSES

Krewe of Goddesses is a social aid & pleasure club that works towards the empowerment of the female identity, body positivity and sex positivity through outreach and activism in our community.

Founded in 2011, the mission of the Krewe of Goddesses is to create a safe space where all members feel valued and have the support and encouragement to be their creative and authentic selves. We acknowledge that we have continual work to do in order to be strong allies as we strive to be truly anti-racist and anti-sexist and fight for a just society. Our roots lie in taking back our sexuality and bodies from a culture that is often more fearful of sexuality than violence. We work to change that perception and have a lot of fun along the way.

Our krewe is woman-centric, but we have grown to include not only women but also men and trans persons from all class, religious and diverse backgrounds. We believe in the Universal Whole and respect those who are multi-sexual and all that are in touch with the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine.

ABOUT KREWE OF HELLARIOUS WINGNUTS

The Krewe of Hellarious Wingnuts is a small, clandestine walking club that honors the city of New Orleans each year by satirizing those who perpetuate and benefit from its gross incompetence.

ABOUT FLORA & FAUNA

Flora and Fauna brings a resplendent biome, honoring the beasts and beauty of nature through carnival magic. From the icy tundra to the steamy jungle, our krewe embraces individual expression of animal and plant spirits, joining together to revel in the wild streets of New Orleans. Flora and Fauna was formed in 2018, evolving from the Krewe of Muumuu and Krewe du Krakatoa. After deep soul searching, a choice was made to abandon the colonizer glorification of Polynesian culture and instead glorify the beauty of the natural world.

ABOUT THE LEGENDARY ORDER OF THE CASKET GIRLS

The Order was created in the summer of 2023. The original members, otherwise known as The High Council, consist of six women dedicated to The Order's mission. The Legendary Order of the Casket Girls' mission is to create a structured environment of support, empowerment, inclusion, and transparency to promote the inherent worth and value of all individuals. The Order's pillars of empowerment are self-expression, self-development, community service, and paying homage to New Orleans history and legends.

ABOUT SHIMMY SHAKTI BELLY DANCE GODDESSES

Shimmy Shakti Troupe is a MENAHT (Middle Eastern, North African, Hellenic, and Turkish)/belly dance troupe that has been performing in New Orleans since 2011 as part of Belly Dance Goddess Hour. In 2017, Shimmy Shakti debuted as a New Orleans Dance Krewe for Gay Pride Parade, also joining Krewe of Goddesses in Southern Decadence in 2024. This year, in 2025, Shimmy Shakti officially joins Les Fous du Carnaval as SHIMMY SHAKTI BELLY DANCE GODDESSES KREWE.

SHAKTI symbolises the feminine principle, the activating power and energy. We believe in the healing power of the arts. Our mission is to create a vibrant community where dance and movement are celebrated and accessible to all. We aim to create a community that radiates love, kindness, joy, and appreciates cultural exchange while inspiring self-discovery, connection, and personal growth. We recognize that diversity and inclusivity enrich our community, and we welcome individuals with open arms, ready to embrace their unique perspectives and experiences.