Krewe Of Chad ‘mayor’ claims spot on Orleans Avenue 552 hours ahead of Endymion

The Krewe of Chad was 552 hours early – 138 times ahead of when a spot could be “reserved.”

by Clint Durrett
January 31, 2020

It’s not even February, but that hasn’t stopped the infamous Krewe of Chad from marking their territory along Orleans Avenue in Mid-City.

The Krewe of Chad references the overeager Endymion paradegoers who spray-paint the neutral ground in an effort to “claim” their spot. The term for the group was coined years ago and has held up each year — simply because the group keeps returning earlier and earlier, hoping that a little spray paint will mean something. I think we’ve all learned that it doesn’t matter whether it be a sharpie marker on a map or spray paint on a neutral ground — it won’t mean squat.

In orange spray paint, the Krewe of Chad member marked a sizable portion of the neutral ground on Orleans Avenue and simply put the word “The Mayor” in the orange boxed-off space.

The graffitied stake to claim a plot of precious space for the parade was spotted Thursday (Jan. 30). The Krewe of Endymion rolls on Feb. 22.

It seems to start earlier and earlier for the Chads each year. For 2020, it came on the day that the New Orleans City Council ushered in new rules for Carnival. They will take effect in the final two weeks of the season.

See Also: Dear Chad, please don’t be a jerk for Mardi Gras

Among the rules, placing chairs or ladders more than four hours ahead of a parade is prohibited – putting an exact timeline of when it’s too early to “claim a spot.” The Krewe of Chad was 552 hours early – 138 times ahead of when a spot could be “reserved.” No chairs or ladders were used to stake the land — just bright orange spray paint marking the dirt and grass.

I guess the “mayor” of the Krewe of Chad is hoping for diplomatic immunity. Nonetheless, NOLA Twitter was ready to make its own point for the “mayor” of “Krewe of Chad.”

https://twitter.com/AmandaSoprano/status/1222970160400781313

https://twitter.com/KyleDigby/status/1222972384598274051

https://twitter.com/BeyondBourbonSt/status/1223047320482258945

https://twitter.com/AmandaSoprano/status/1222970160400781313

Hi. I’m Clint. I’m the Local Market Manager for Very Local New Orleans. I’ve lived in New Orleans since 2001 and been living my best life in this rad place since that year. I have 10 years of broadcast journalism and digital media experience. Before Very Local New Orleans, I worked for WDSU-TV – producing, product developing, digital media managing– I’ve done it all. I’ve seen first-hand the trials we’ve suffered in this city and the celebrations we’ve enjoyed. I love New Orleans. It’s home. I’m going to work my hardest to bring you the content and experiences you care...