Bacchus

History of the Krewe of Bacchus

Bacchasaurus In 1972 Bacchus Introduced its first 2 signature floats: King Kong  & Bacchasaurus. Besides the giant dinosaur) there is Bacchawhoppa (an equally large whale) Bacchagator (an enourmus gator) Baccatality (a 3 float percession made up of resturanteurs) and new for 2008 was the Baccamore' (a love themed float)

Early in 1968, Owen "Pip" Brennan, Jr., son of the late Brennan, held a meeting at Brennan’s Restaurant to address this problem. What emerged was was an evolujtion of his father's vision; a super Krewe of Bacchus dedicated to the biggest and best. Ignoring the "shalt nots" who ruled the rigid Carnival religion prior to that time participants would be able to attend the ball and fully participate in the gala festivities. Another first was the introduction of celebrities as King of Bacchus.

It was decided that the Krewe of Bacchus would break with Carnival tradition by staging a Sunday night parade that would be the highlight of the Carnival season.  Its floats would be bigger and more spectacular than anything previously seen in Carnival. Furthermore, Bacchus decided to have a national celebrity king lead its parade, breaking ranks with 113 years of Carnival tradition.

On Sunday, February 16, 1969, the Krewe of Bacchus staged its first Mardi Gras parade. The theme was "The Best Things In Life", and the procession was led by celebrity king Danny Kaye. The 250 member, 15 float entourage took to the streets of New Orleans showering thousands of spectators with over a million strings of beads and 300,000 doubloons. The new parade was a smashing success.

Edward Brennan, Senior

The seeds of the Krewe of Bacchus were actually sown two decades before the present carnival organization was founded. The original Krewe of Bacchus was the brainchild of Owen Edward Brennan, Sr., a true visionary.  Brennan, owner of the Absinthe House, a famous bar on Bourbon Street, and later founder of Brennan’s Restaurant on Royal Street, was also the father of the first Captain of Bacchus, Owen "Pip" Brennan, Jr. In the late 1940’s, Brennan realized that a large segment of his clientele was seasonally unhappy – namely tourists to the Mardi Gras.  At that time, Carnival balls at Mardi Gras were predominately closed to anyone outside of New Orleans’ society circles. So, In 1949, Brennan decided to spend an enormous amount of money, buck the entrenched New Orleans Society, and revolutionize the Mardi Gras. He did so by creating a brand new Krewe, called the Krewe of Bacchus, wide open to tourists.

In 1990 Bacchus moved its annual massive after parade party to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center from The Rivergate. The following year re-Introduced flambeaux carriers for  night parade.

In 2006, the first Mardi Gras after the devastaing Hurrican Katrina, Bacchus & Endymion paraded back-to-back on the same night which some say created the largest every super-krewe parade.

Now, with more than 1,200 members and 33 animated super-floats, the Krewe of Bacchus is revered as one of the most spectacular Krewes in Carnival history.

Pip Brennan still serves as Captain of The Krewe of Bacchus; overseeing each detail with great pride and meticulous perfection.  He is now joined by his three sons, Owen Brennan, III, Clark Brennan, and Blake Brennan, all of whom serve on the Krewe's Board of Directors.  Owen, III also serves as the Krewe's Executive Director.  Like their grandfather and father, this third generation of the Brennan family shares the same love of Mardi Gras and New Orleans.

Everyone still looks forward all year to party held at the Morial Convention Center. It is a black tie affair for everybody except the members who remain in costume. The party is known as the Rendezvous and celebrity entertainment adds to the festive atmosphere.