HAPPY MARDI GRAS! TODAY’S PARADES maps, 2B
UPTOWN: Zulu, 8 a.m. l Rex, 10:30 a.m. l Elks Orleanians, follows l Crescent City, follows l METAIRIE: Argus, 11 a.m. l Elks Jeffersonians, follows l COVINGTON: Carnival in Covington, 10 a.m. l
REX, ZULU BULLETINS INSIDE TODAY
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T u e s d ay, F e b r u a ry 17, 2026
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MONDAY FUNDAY
Revelers enjoy Lundi Gras fest vibes Event spotlights local musicians
BY JONI HESS Staff writer
STAFF PHOTOS By CHRIS GRANGER
The Krewe of Orpheus rolls Uptown on Monday.
Actor Noah Wyle shows off his official necklace as he reigns as the celebrity monarch of the Krewe of Orpheus parade.
CARNIVAL 2026 INSIDE, 4A, 5A, 1B
NOLA.COM
The Krewe of Proteus parades in New Orleans on Monday with the theme ‘Journey of Sun Wukong.’ Proteus is one of the oldest organizations of Carnival and has 230 members.
Kelsey Frederick sat on the steps near Woldenberg Park’s Monument of the Immigrant on Lundi Gras, a tray of fried gumbo balls in tow. The New Orleans resident stopped eating and began dancing as the sound of a brass band filled the air and Junior Zulu Juan Hendon led a second-line at the 32nd annual Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club Lundi Gras festival. “I couldn’t tell you who’s on stage today,” Frederick said, referencing the festival’s music lineup of local musicians. “I just show up every year to see all the characters, to see my people and it’s always a good time,” she said. Frederick was one of thousands gathered for the annual riverfront festival that signals the final days of Carnival season. Attendees at the free event came to celebrate food, this year’s Zulu characters and the evening arrival of King and Queen Zulu by boat ahead of Fat Tuesday. This year’s royal duo, Ron Tassin, an administrator at InspireNOLA Schools, and Shirelle Monique Chapman, a Jefferson Parish project coordinator, would arrive differently than Zulu royalty have in previous years. The U.S. Coast Guard, impacted
ä See LUNDI GRAS, page 4A
King Zulu 2026 Ron Tassin reigns after 20 years of service
Haydel’s co-owner to lead Argus’ roll through Metairie
Educator believes in mentoring, family
Bakery ships thousands of king cakes during season
BY KEITH SPERA
BY LARA NICHOLSON
As a Jefferson Parish youngster, Ron Tassin didn’t attend the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club parade. His mother worked two jobs, he explained recently. Come Fat Tuesday, she was tired. He finally got his first glimpse of Zulu around age 11. “It was quite different for me,” he recalled recently. “I was like, ‘Wow this is amazing,’ not knowing that years down the line, you’re going to be a part of this.” He’s more than just a part of it. In the 20 years since he joined Zulu, he has served on more than
For most Krewe of Argus kings, the busiest time of Carnival season is Mardi Gras morning, when they don their crown and take to the streets of Metairie to throw beads and toys to thousands of onlookers at the front of Jefferson Parish’s premiere parade. But for this year’s king, the ride might actually be a moment of respite after working 12-hour days to prepare and sell 75,000 king cakes in a matter of six weeks. David Haydel Jr. co-owns Haydel’s Bakery in Old Jefferson with his family, where he works from 5:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. every
Staff writer
Staff writer
RON TASSIN King Zulu 2026
SHARELL MONIQUE CHATMAN Queen Zulu 2026
a dozen committees and as an asAnd on Tuesday, Tassin will sistant to two Zulu kings and a reign as the parade’s 110th king. former president. He is the orä See ZULU, page 5A ganization’s treasurer.
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Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................3B Nation-World................2A Comics-Puzzles .....3D-6D Living............................1D Opinion ........................4B Commentary ................5B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C
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NOTE: Because markets were closed on Monday, there is no Business page today.
Argus King XLI David Haydel Jr. day of Carnival season to distribute their iconic king cakes both locally and nationwide. “Mardi Gras is a grind,” Haydel said. “It’s a straight-up grind, but it
ä See ARGUS, page 5A
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