The Krewe of Olympia, Fayetteville AR Mardi Gras

Our first year float and theme put us “Above the Clouds”, as Gods and Goddesses in Olympia. We had big bellowing clouds (old sheets stuffed with recycled cloth), big silver lightning and rain drops in metallic silver below the clouds. We won the award for best float!

The second year we decided to celebrate “New Orleans Music”, so we made big plywood cut-outs of Marcia Ball playing piano (painted by Jane Garrison and Joanie Johnson). We had giant musical instruments and lots of glittered musical signs all over the float. We won a 2nd time, and were thrilled!

Since then we have had such themes as: “Goddesses Rock” with dancers in the street, “Under the Sea” with a Nebo–like décor; “Faces of the Goddess” with giant three-dimensional faces of the Goddess from all walks of life; “An Egyptian Theme” with Egyptian costumes and a giant Cobra on the front, and “Goddesses in Paradise” with a Polynesian theme.

We have won the award for best float for all of the years of our involvement except for one, when parade coordinators decided that there would be five categories for winning, including entertainment and throwing the most and best beads. Well, we’re no entertainers and do not aspire to be, and so the contest winnings went to the float that had the most beads and had a band. That year we had one of our best floats, with“The Faces of the Goddess”.

This year the Krewe will entertain and amaze you as usual. Wear your dancing shoes and watch for the Krewe of Olympia, Gods and Goddesses extraordinaire!


HOME PHOTOS MEMBERS NEWS/SPONSORS KREWE NOTICES CONTACT CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL FAYETTEVILLE MARDI GRAS WEBSITE!	IT'S MARDI GRAS 2020 TIME! ALL FOOLS are called to gather for the Fayetteville Mardi Gras on Saturday, Feb. 22nd! Join us Saturday, Feb. 22nd for the Fat Saturday PARADE OF FOOLS! SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2:00 PM, DOWNTOWN FAYETTEVILLE Costumes, floats, and beads, beads and more beads! This family-friendly event is fun to watch and even more fun to participate in. The parade will begin at 2:00pm at the Fayetteville Square, proceed north on Block, turn west on Dickson St., and ending in the parking lot on West/Dickson. Bring your friends and family and come join the fun! Full info on theFayetteville Mardi Gras Website>> Pictures from past parades, past years, parties and more! CLICK HERE> Have more pictures to add? EMAIL ME!
	THE KREWE OF OLYMPIA On Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday in 1998 Marian George and Melanie Norman (then Stafford) were standing outside the Brew Pub watching the second line parade of the Demented Krewe of Dickson juking and processioning into the Pub. AJ and Penny Bellard looked over and said, “We ought to show Fayetteville what a real Mardi Gras Parade is like, one with floats and bands and all the whoopla!” The next year Fayetteville's 1st official Mardi Gras parade started, and the Krewe of Olympia was born! Based on the concept that we are all an inseparable part of God, and in that sense all human beings are Gods and Goddesses, we came up with the name: Krewe of Olympia, Gods and Goddesses.
CLICK HERE for a History of Mardi Gras Beads and King Cake at Mardi Gras!	Our first year float and theme put us “Above the Clouds”, as Gods and Goddesses in Olympia. We had big bellowing clouds (old sheets stuffed with recycled cloth), big silver lightning and rain drops in metallic silver below the clouds. We won the award for best float! The second year we decided to celebrate “New Orleans Music”, so we made big plywood cut-outs of Marcia Ball playing piano (painted by Jane Garrison and Joanie Johnson). We had giant musical instruments and lots of glittered musical signs all over the float. We won a 2nd time, and were thrilled! Since then we have had such themes as: “Goddesses Rock” with dancers in the street, “Under the Sea” with a Nebo–like décor; “Faces of the Goddess” with giant three-dimensional faces of the Goddess from all walks of life; “An Egyptian Theme” with Egyptian costumes and a giant Cobra on the front, and “Goddesses in Paradise” with a Polynesian theme. We have won the award for best float for all of the years of our involvement except for one, when parade coordinators decided that there would be five categories for winning, including entertainment and throwing the most and best beads. Well, we’re no entertainers and do not aspire to be, and so the contest winnings went to the float that had the most beads and had a band. That year we had one of our best floats, with“The Faces of the Goddess”. This year the Krewe will entertain and amaze you as usual. Wear your dancing shoes and watch for the Krewe of Olympia, Gods and Goddesses extraordinaire!

ALL FOOLS are called to gather for the Fayetteville Mardi Gras on Saturday, Feb. 22nd!

ALL FOOLS are called to gather for the
Fayetteville Mardi Gras on Saturday, Feb. 22nd!