Tornado rips across East Houma street
January 2, 2008Brian Champange
January 7, 2008GUMBO STAFF REPORT
A twist on Dr. Seuss’s sendoff for youngsters ages 1 to 100, the theme of the seventh annual Krewe of Babylon extravaganza is “Babylon, Oh, The Places We’ll Go!”
King Lin Joseph Kiger Jr., the president/CEO of the Chamber of Lafourche and Bayou River Region, and Queen Elizabeth Barrios, an agent with State Farm Insurance, will reign over this year’s ball Friday, February 1, and will lead the Mardi Gras parade Saturday, February 2.
In keeping with this year’s theme, the Lafourche Parish parade’s 13 floats will lead parade-goers to many places in the world.
Babylon will take its usual route beginning at 7 p.m. on Louisiana Highway 24 in Larose, onto Louisiana Highway 1 near the Apple Inn, and traveling to Jack’s Exxon in Cut Off to the Cote Blanche connection.
Organizers said this year’s parade will include a number of special Babylon throws, and will be lead by a “special” grand marshal.
Ron Thomas Dantin is serving as captain of this year’s parade.
The royal court includes duke Mark Anthony Compeaux and maid Lisa Angelle Compeaux; duke Kirk Richard Lee and maid Torie Toups Lee; and duke Dr. Draby Charles Chiasson and maid Nickole Rushing Chiasson. Attendants to the king and queen are prince Dylan Clay Burch, son of Danny Craig and Brandi Barrios Burch; princesses Alexis Nicholle Chen-Xiao Kiger, daughter of King Kiger and Kelly Lee Kiger; Madison Angelle Compeaux, daughter of duke Mark and maid Lisa Compeaux; Madison Lee Stansberry, Taylor Elizabeth Stansberry and Mackenzie Lynn Stansberry, daughters of Lee Christopher and Jennifer Cuicchi Stansberry.
The Krewe of Babylon is a non-profit organization that continues to grow. Membership is open to the public, and dues are only $175 annually.
The ball and tableau are also open to the public. Tickets are available at the door, and the formal attire is option.
The 2007-08 board of directors – president Antoinette Plaisance, treasurer Rachel Adams, secretary and co-founder Rani Fournier and co-founder Jade Galliano – maintain that participation should be affordable to all.
Fournier and Galliano envisioned a krewe of “everyday, average Joes” concerned about the well-being of the community. Seven years later, Babylon’s 150 members – men and women – continue to share and celebrate that vision. And the family-affair includes parents and children aboard the floats.
To learn more about becoming a member of Babylon, call (985) 637-1423 or (985) 677-1084.
