LAPLACE — Those wishing to experience Mardi Gras this season don’t need to go all the way to New Orleans as several parades are rolling through the River Parishes next week.

Krewe of Tohwahpahsah 

This will be one of the first parades in St. John the Baptist Parish, rolling at noon Feb. 6 in Reserve.

There will be 15 floats, not including trucks and cars that were designed by individual entrants. The parade will start at West 10th St. and Railroad Ave. in Reserve and follow the same path as last year.

The family parade takes on special meaning this year, rolling in honor of its founder Lawrance “Noonie” Triche, who died in June, according to his daughter, Frances Triche Sullivan.

“He always looked forward to it,” Sullivan said. “He was one of the last ones on the float, and he was always ready to party. He liked putting the parade on. It became a friend and family tradition for locals.”

Krewe du Monde 

The largest Mardi Gras parade in St. John the Baptist Parish will roll at 11 a.m. Feb. 7 with 27 floats, 85 units and more than 700 riders.

There will also be a drum line in the parade, which has not been done before.

The theme of the 27th Krewe du Monde is “Heroes Among Us.” The parade will take its usual route through LaPlace.

Royalty this year include Sheriff Mike Tregre as king and his daughter Jasmine as queen.

The parade, and also the ball, serve as a fundraiser for the LaPlace Lions Club, according to parade coordinator Melynine Wright.

Money raised helps children with special needs, usually resulting in a donation of more than $15,000.

The parade’s path through local neighborhoods is also unique.

“In doing that, the parade is able to be seen and experienced by the locals who may be shut in their homes or those who have disabilities that prevent them from going to the city,” Wright said.

“It’s also good for people who may have children who are afraid to go into the city. Not only is it an opportunity for the Lions Club to use it as a fundraiser, it’s also a blessing for the local community to be able to experience Mardi Gras in their own back yard.”

Krewe of Lul 

There will be 25 floats rolling through Luling Feb. 6 at noon.

The Hahnville High School band will make its annual appearance, along with six to seven other bands and dance groups and several festival queens.

Each float group comes up with their own idea for a theme, Russell “Rosco” Lauve said.

Lauve, one of the captains for Krewe of Lul, said this year’s parade would be their 39th.

“It’s a local parade,” he said.

“A few of us got together and we decided that we wanted to have a parade so we put one together.”

The king and queen are husband and wife Nolan and Carmen Boudreaux. There are also two grand marshals: sisters Martha and Betty Champagne.

Lauve said the community should look forward to different throws.

“The grand marshals and the king and queen will be throwing out specialty throws that they have made,” he said.

Krewe of Des Allemands

The Krewe of Des Allemands will roll at 1 p.m. Feb. 7 in Des Allemands. All are invited to attend, except for pets. The parade will stick to its normal route, beginning on Whitley Road, towards the end it will veer left onto Old Hwy 90.

After a few blocks, the parade will make a right onto Lorraine Drive and disband back on the highway.

In total the route is 2.7 miles long. While there is no theme for the parade there are royalty. The 2016 king and queen are Nolan “Snookie” Frickey and Genevieve Comardelle Frickey, and the Grand Marshals are Louella Hogan Deroche and Rita Naquin Schaubhut.