Check out the News/Events page for upcoming Rascal activity 

The Krewe of Little Rascals is America’s longest running, most flamboyant children’s Mardi Gras Krewe in Carnival history. “Today’s Little Rascals are Tomorrow’s Leaders and Our Hope for the Future”. This is the motto of the Krewe of Little Rascals, a non-profit organization named after Hollywood’s most famous kids group. It is a youth oriented traditional Mardi Gras Ball and Parade, with members ranging from 2 – 18, founded in 1983 and patterned after the adult carnival clubs. The Krewe was a vision of a couple who believed that the Carnival Spirit of the old New Orleans should live and breathe through our youth, as well as through our adults. It was built with the intention of promoting the qualities of leadership and self esteem in our young members and fellowship among our families. Little Rascals is comprised of both parent sponsored members and individual/corporate sponsored members. We believe that children should be children and ALL children should have the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential regardless of race, religion or economic background.

For the past 27 years, The Krewe of Little Rascals has been working with children from the Greater New Orleans area as well as various area hospitals and youth organizations. Our efforts center on the Mardi Gras season and provide an opportunity for all children to participate in a fun-filled youth organization where they can just be kids. Each child can enjoy supervised activities that include being presented as a member at our annual Coronation Ball, where the year’s King and Queen are announced, then participation in a traditional formal Tableau Ball which features a live orchestra and is patterned after the adult carnival balls. Two days after the ball, the children ride on beautifully decorated 40’ floats in a four-mile street parade which has grown to 85+ units and nearly 200,000 spectators.

Since the Krewe was formed, we have had numerous testimonials about the positive, therapeutic, self-confidence building experience that our activities have provided to area youth as well as, hundreds of physically and emotionally challenged youth. We know that all our youth as well as the involved adults are similarly benefited. For example, Child’s Wish sponsored a young boy to ride in The Krewe of Little Rascals as his wish. While on the float, WWL-TV interviewed him to see how he was enjoying his experience. During the course of the interview, the boy said his biggest wish was to be adopted. A couple saw the interview, made a call and adopted this young boy. The following year he returned to the Krewe as a Duke and their first thing as a family was to have his name included in the newspaper as part of the court of The Krewe of Little Rascals. His name was listed as “Duke – son of Mr. & Mrs….”. We have been able to accomplish this, only through the selfless services of many volunteers and the financial encouragement of good corporate citizens. As a non-profit organization, our plan is to have more children, events, and floats sponsored.