Mardi Gras Becomes ‘Yardi Gras’ When Float-Making Company Gets Orders For Porch Floats After Parade is Canceled

[ad_1]

A New Orleans couple who typically spend this time of year building fantastic floats for the Mardi Gras parade have done something a little different for the pandemic – creating porch floats so people can safely have fun at home.

The NOLA show may have been canceled this year, but that hasn’t stopped husband and wife team Inez and Rene Pierre from creating, for example, a Dolly Parton-themed float to pay Tribute to the country singer’s $ 1 million donation to coronavirus vaccine research.

Adapting their colorful floats to fit around porches, balconies and even the front lawn, the couple have been inundated with orders – not just from their hometown, but from as far away as Alabama, New York and North Carolina.

Inez, who with her husband owns the float-building business Crescent City Artists, saying:
“It broke my heart when the mayor canceled Mardi Gras, but I also understand that life is more important.”

The talented couple, who typically build steel, wood and muslin carnival floats for around $ 45,000 each, were concerned that the end of the party would spell hardship for their financial future.

CHECK OUT: Dolly Parton quietly gives away 100 millionth book for her children’s reading program

Later, Inez overheard someone on a news show suggesting that the porch floated as a way for the city to still celebrate.

The couple placed their first order just before Christmas. From there, the orders never stopped. Their website ended up crashing, they were getting a lot of visits. Two weeks ago, they even stopped receiving orders because they were so overwhelmed.

“We have up to 52 porch floats,” says Inez, “we have maybe 10 more to complete and we have a waiting list for next year.

PLUS: Cardboard artist creates mirror surrounded by legendary black heroes to inspire the next generation of leaders

Looks like it’s time to get your floating orders for 2022, stat.

Take a look at the gallery of the artists’ work below and let us know which one is your favorite.