Orpheus scraps St. Patty’s Day parade plans

The Mandeville Krewe of Orpheus has scrapped its plans to put on a St. Patrick’s Day parade this year after failing to get approval from the city.

However, Captain Brett Lowe, said the all-male krewe is not scratching the idea altogether and they will attempt to put on a St. Patrick’s Day parade next year.

Parade organizers were unable to get approval from the Mandeville City Council, who said the city could not afford another parade that soon after Mardi Gras.

While krewes are required to pay the actual cost of the parade, the city typically absorbs the cost associated with policing parades, setting up barricades and cleaning up after parades.

City Finance Director Milton Stiebing said parades cost the city an estimated $30,000 each in police and public works costs.

While council members agreed that a St. Patrick’s Day parade would be a good thing for the city, they also agree that the city does not have the money to fund another parade.

“Conceptually the parade is a great idea, but from a cost perspective, that is a lot of money for the city to put out in addition to what the city is already putting out for the Krewe of Orpheus’ Mardi Gras parade,” Council member Trilby Lenfant told parade organizers when they appeared before the council.

She suggested the krewe seek out corporate sponsors to help defray the cost of putting on the parade.

That was in November. Since then the issue has appeared on several council agendas, only to be tabled without discussion.

Lowe said the krewe was attempting to do as the council suggested and seek out sponsors, but that “didn’t work out.”

The original plan for the krewe was to rent out its floats, which it owns, to local businesses and families and allows them to ride in the parade. This would have served as a fund-raiser for the krewe, which has suffered a drop in membership thanks to the economy.

When asked why the krewe decided against having a St. Patrick’s Day parade, Lowe said the city made the decision for them.

“They were asking us to pay an amount we couldn’t possibly afford,” he said. “We couldn’t afford to pay the fees they were asking us to pay.”

He said the krewe will continue to look into options and hopes to have a St. Patrick’s Day parade next year.

The krewe’s annual Mardi Gras parade will roll as planned Friday night in Mandeville.