North Louisiana Band Marching in Rex Parade in New Orleans

SHREVEPORT, LA - A marching band from north Louisiana is in New Orleans for Mardi Gras today. The Benton High School Band has been selected to march in Krewe of Rex parade in the heart of all of Mardi Gras.

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How Did Benton Get Selected for This Honor?

Bossier Parish school officials tell us "the athletic director from Newman High School was at a football game earlier this year where the Benton Band performed. He is a member of the Krewe of Rex and enjoyed their performance so much that he reached out to Benton High's football coach to ask for the band director Evan McCormick's contact information so he could extend an invitation for them to participate."

McCormick pitched the idea to his students and their parents and they decided to try to make it happened. They jumped into high gear to raise the money for the trip and began rehearsing for the big day. They raised the money and are excited about this trip.

What's Mardi Gras Day Look Like for This Teens?

The band rolled out from Benton at 1:30 this morning in 3 charter buses. They will march in the 10:30am parade which winds through Uptown New Orleans for the 5 mile route.

Krewe of Rex

The band will be back in Benton late Tuesday night.

The Krewe of Rex was founded in 1872 and is one of the oldest participating krewes in New Orleans and one of the four "super krewes."

Mr. Mardi Gras' Pictures From the 2024 Krewe of Centaur Bal

He's a Charter Member (Day 1 Member) of the Krewe of Centaur. He's served as King Centaur IX, and he's taken pictures at almost every Centaur event you can think of. Harvey Dillahunty is Shreveport's Mr. Mardi Gras. He took a ton of pictures at the 2024 Krewe of Centaur Bal, and he's shared some of those with us...

Gallery Credit: Credit: Harvey Dillahunty

Filed Under: Shreveport News

Categories: Louisiana News, Morning Show, Shreveport/Bossier City News