Getting into the Big Parades – My Story
Okay, so you see these massive, colorful parades on TV, right? Like the big ones in New Orleans or maybe Dublin for St. Paddy’s Day. And you think, “Wow, I wanna be in that!” Well, I had that exact thought a few years back. Wasn’t sure if it was even possible for just some regular person, but I decided to give it a shot.
First thing I did was basically just dive into the internet. Spent hours trying to figure out how these things work. It wasn’t straightforward, let me tell you. A lot of parade websites talk about watching the parade, not being in it. You gotta dig deeper. I started searching for stuff like “join Mardi Gras krewe” or “participate in St. Patrick’s Day parade Dublin”. That seemed to get me closer.
I found out pretty quickly that just showing up won’t work. You usually need to be part of a group, or a ‘krewe’ as they call it in New Orleans, or some kind of registered organization. Some are super exclusive, like old families and stuff, forget about those. But others are more open, though they might have waiting lists or membership fees. Sometimes hefty fees, really.
Finding My Way In
I decided to aim for a big St. Patrick’s Day parade first, not Dublin initially, but a major US city one which is also pretty famous. I looked up the official parade website and found a list of participating groups from the previous year. Marching bands, Irish dance schools, cultural associations, community groups… loads of them.
So, I started reaching out. Emailed a few groups that looked interesting. Some didn’t reply, some said they were full, some had requirements I didn’t meet (like being Irish, which I’m not, or playing an instrument, which I don’t). It was a bit discouraging, not gonna lie.
Then, I found a smaller community association that was participating. They weren’t the flashiest group, but they welcomed new members who were enthusiastic and willing to help prepare their float and costumes. There was a modest membership fee, which was fine by me. I had to fill out a form, basically saying who I was and why I wanted to join. Met up with the group leader for a quick chat – they just wanted to make sure I was serious and not some weirdo, I guess.
Getting Ready and the Big Day
Once I was in, the real work started. Our group had a theme, so we had several weekends of getting together to build props and decorate a small float. It was actually fun, meeting people, painting stuff, messing around. Everyone chipped in.
Then came the costume. It wasn’t anything too crazy, but we all had to wear matching outfits. Meant finding the right size, making small alterations. Felt a bit silly at first, but seeing everyone else getting into it made it better.
- Contacting potential groups
- Filling out applications
- Paying membership fees (sometimes)
- Helping with float/prop building
- Getting the costume ready
- Attending group meetings or practice sessions (if any)
Parade day itself was nuts. We had to get there super early, hours before the start. Lots of waiting around, checking in, finding our spot in the lineup. The energy was amazing, though. Music playing everywhere, hundreds of people in costumes, excitement in the air. It’s organized chaos.
Finally, we started moving. Walking down the street, waving at the crowds… it’s a totally different vibe from just watching. You see the faces, hear the cheers up close. It’s tiring, your feet hurt, you might be cold or hot depending on the weather, but honestly? It was awesome. Totally worth the effort it took to get there.
So yeah, getting into those famous parades? It takes some legwork, contacting people, maybe some fees, and definitely commitment to a group. But it’s doable. You just gotta find the right door to knock on and be ready to jump in. It’s less about just showing up and more about becoming part of the show itself.
