World's Largest Mardi Gras Float And Kelly Clarkson

Who’s ready for Mardi Gras?  I’m counting down the days (91 days, 12 hours, and 22 minutes at the time of this writing). You can tell Mardi Gras is getting closer when it starts appearing in the news more and more often.

The super Krewe of Endymion has been very busy prepping for the 2013 celebration. In February, they plan to parade the world’s largest Mardi Gras float. The Float will be a record-breaking 330 feet long, hold 230 riders and cost $1.2 million.

I can’t wait to see this float coming around the corner. No really, I can’t wait to see it coming around the corner.  I want to see how it handles the corners and other obstacles along the parade route. I heard the members of the Krewe did extensive research to make sure the float would be able to make it along the course.

In other Krewe Of Endymion news, pop star Kelly Clarkson was picked to be the celebrity grand marshal, as well as the headliner at the after party at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Kelly Clarkson won American Idol back in 2002, then started a professional singing career that netted her two Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards and she’s stayed busy making television appearances on shows like the Saturday Night Live and The Voice.

Kelly Clarkson isn’t the first pop star to appear in the parade. Britney Spears was a past celebrity grand marshal. Other past celebs have included actors like Kevin Costner and Marisa Tomei, and celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse even made an appearance one year.

If you didn’t think that Mardi Gras is a big deal in the Big Easy, the whole city shuts down and comes out to the parades. That includes the federal courts where a judge delayed the start of the BP Oil Spill Parade until after Mardi Gras season is over.

So really, who else is with me? Is it time for Mardi Gras yet?