Comedian Will Ferrell capably performed his duty as celebrity grand marshal of the Carnival celebrations in New Orleans, kicking off the festivities with aplomb. Mardi Gras begins today, and the city named Ferrell the King of the Bacchus Parade.
Before the parade, Ferrell admitted he was a bit nervous for his Mardi Gras role. “I don’t know what to expect,” he told the Times-Picayune. “I do have to say, everybody is coming up to me and … they have the same speech pattern: They go, ‘Have you been here before for Mardi Gras?’ And I say, ‘No.’ Then they pause. ‘Oh. You’re going to have a good time.’”
During the parade, Will Ferrell announced that New Orleans was “arguably the best city in the world.” Previous celebrities chosen to play Bacchus include Nicolas Cage, William Shatner and James Gandolfini.
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Mardis Gras actually ends today, as it is Fat Tuesday and tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of lent. Nor did Will Ferrell kick off the festivities. He rode in Bacchus which was on Sunday night, about the tail of Mardi Gras itself. He was the third celebrity Grand Marshall behind Patricia Clarkson who rode with Muses and Maroon 5, Andy Cohen, and Anderson Cooper who rode with Endymion.
Thanks for the clarification, Bridget, much appreciated. Are you in New Orleans? Want to give us a first hand account next year?