Tara Gray Burkhart – While not from New Orleans by birth, Tara has become THE New Orleanian to strive to be. Tara fell in love with New Orleans as a young girl while eating a meat pie along the River with her father. Once setting roots in New Orleans after college, she instantly fell in love with all things Carnival and glitter. Since then, Tara has grown to participate in over 26 different parades in a single year, leaving a trail of glitter and gemstones with her beautiful hand-decorated throws. She is also a Guiness World Record hopeful for this feat! We love you, Tara!
Missy Hildreth – the beautiful Missy Hildreth proudly serves as Captain of the Krewe of Excalibur, as well as costumer for the Royalty and riders of many of Carnival’s Krewes throughout the area (and beyond) with her company, D&D Creations. Missy comes from a lineage of Carnival costume designers and spreads her passion for all things Carnival to anyone that interacts with her, especially her family and friends. All Hail Excalibur!
Team AJ – A-Ron and Jennifer are THE husband-wife duo that document all things New Orleans culture in their videos on their hit YouTube channel, the Misadventures of Team AJ. These two even insprie Kirk and Pickle with how many events they are able to attend! We love our sweet friends!
Ronny Kastner – Ronny serves as the captain of the Krewe of Poseidon, Slidell’s premier parade making Slidell a MUST SEE stop on their parade day. Their parade has several hundred enthusiastic members, many of your favorite marching/dancing/riding groups, fireworks, beautiful floats and fun exciting throws! Hail Poseidon!
Raphael Rodriguez – As a proud member of the Farhad Grotto Bug Patrol, Raphael and his brethren in the Bug Patrol lead the way for many of the area’s parades with their iconic red “Ladybug” dune buggies. When they’re not leading a parade, the Farhad Grotto serve tirelessly in the community.
YOU – With the purchase of a vote (a doubloon to put in your choice’s bucket), you can pick YOUR favorite dance team to win the People’s Choice award, separate from the judge’s votes! While its said jokingly during government elections, here it rains true – “Vote and vote often!”
Awards for the winning dance teams will be collected from the admissions and donations, so please invite all of your friends to join the fun! Our goal is for 100% of the “take” to go towards the dance teams and the causes of their choice.
Additionally, we will award the winning dance teams with their own “Countdown to King Cake Dance-Off” Championship belt!
