San Marcos Of Okeanos To Host 3rd Annual Mardi Gras Parade

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS – Planning is well underway for the 3rd annual Mardi Gras Parade along historic Belvin Street.  At a meeting held last week, representatives from a variety of neighborhoods within the San Marcos Historic District gathered at the home of one of the founders of the Krewe of Okeanos to finalize preparations for the parade, which is set to take place on Sat., Feb. 14 beginning at noon.

 “The purpose of our parade and the rest of the Krewe’s Mardi Gras celebrations is to help bring our community and neighborhoods together in celebration of the Arts and culture in San Marcos,” said Diana Baker, a New Orleans native, who along with her husband, James and a few of their neighbors in the Historic District ,formed the local Krewe in 2011.

The Bakers, along with the other founders of the Krewe, Wayne Kraemer, Rodney Van Oudekerke, and Greg Wurzbach , worked to bring the concept of the neighborhood parade to fruition in the second year of the Krewe’s existence.

The 3rd annual Krewe of Okeanos Mardi Gras Parade route will run the length of Belvin Street from Bishop to the private alley just before Scott Street.  At Noon, the parade will begin slowly moving down Belvin, with a San Marcos a police car and a precession of floats, walking groups and musical and art performers. San Marcos’ own historic fire engine ‘Old Betsy’ will officially conclude the precession.  

Neighborhood groups slated to participate include Belvin Street, Burleson Street, Lindsey/Rogers Streets, San Antonio Street and MLK Drive. Participants have been asked to create colorful rolling and walking units representing their neighborhoods and encouraged to purchase  traditional beads and other throws, which will be tossed to viewers asked to line the sidewalks of Belvin street along the eight-block stretch.

Among the highlights scheduled are unicyclists, representatives from Texas State University’s Color Guard and a reading of a proclamation by San Marcos mayor Daniel Guerrero followed by a toast. In addition, the Hays County Historic Commission will be represented via a vintage, 1960’s era sheriff’s car as well as downtown San Marcos, which will be represented by a roller skating  brigade of women in vintage garb.

The public is warmly invited to attend the parade, which is expected to last approximately 30 minutes. Belvin Street will be blocked off from traffic and parking. Area side streets may be used as well as Small Fries Daycare/Smiles Dentistry Parking lot on the 700 block of W. Hopkins.

Following the traditions of the New Orleans Mardi Gras, the Krewe of Okeanos gets its name from Greek mythology. Okeanos, the God of the Rivers, was chosen because the beautiful San Marcos River has helped to create and nurture community along its banks for more than 8,000 years.

As it has each year, the 2015 San Marcos Carnival season began with the Twelfth Night Masque, held on Epiphany, to honor local notables recognized for their work in the challenging field of historic preservation/conservation and those who have made San Marcos a better place to live.

This year, San Marcos native H. C. Kyle, III and long-time resident Ellie Stewart received their coronation at a Twelfth Night Masque.  The King and Queen will preside over the parade via their own float. 

For more information about the Krewe of Okeanos Mardi Gras Parade please call (512) 396-9422.