NEW ORLEANS—
Endymion founder and Captain, Ed Muniz, announced celebrity riders and performers for Mardi Gras' Main Event, the Krewe of Endymion at the Louisiana Superdome! 2010!The fun begins Saturday, Feb. 13 at noon as The Samedi Gras Festival comes to life on Orleans Avenue, featuring area favorites Contraflow, the Topcats, and The Bucktown All Stars! Endymion rolls after Samedi Gras at 4:30 p.m.
New Orleans Saints owner and business leader Tom Benson is this year's Grand Marshal. Joining Mr. Benson will be his wife Gayle. In addition, his granddaughter Rita Benson LeBlanc, as well as a contingent of Saints players and staff, will also ride. Mr. Benson is celebrating his 25th year with the Saints.
"Everyone knows what the Saints mean to our great city and there is no doubt that this is their year. I'm thrilled to have Mr. Benson lead us," said Captain Ed Muniz. "We're even having special umbrellas made for him!"
"I am thrilled to join the Endymion parade as Grand Marshal on this wonderful ride through the streets of our great city," said Benson. "This is a unique opportunity to once again get in front of the best fans in the NFL and personally thank them for their support they gave our team during the 2009 season. I look forward to seeing everyone out there and hopefully everyone can get a commemorative Saints coin being thrown only from our float!"
A 25th anniversary commemorative coin celebrating Tom Benson's ownership of the Saints will be thrown from the Grand Marshal's float on the night of the parade.
Mardi Gras' biggest party begins by re-creating fantastic performances from New York's famous Cotton Club! In the early 1900s, only the rich and famous were ever allowed to enter to hear the best in entertainment from greats like Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington. Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters play the classics, with quality sound and big-stage impact, for everyone to enjoy!!
As the final floats roll in, Party on the Moon takes the stage! They are one of only a few bands in the country that will deliver a party that surpasses the highest expectations every time out!
Party on the Moon allows for an exciting evening of the latest in current dance, classic rock, disco/funk, swing, R&B, standards, Motown and new country! This state-of-the-art production delivers a great, clean sound at just the right volume...every single time. Party on the Moon has played with national artists such as Three Dog Night, Journey, Huey Lewis, and even Lynyrd Skynyrd.
This year's theme is "Abracadabra" and will feature floats depicting mankind's fascination with magic, including sorcerers and magicians!
