The Krewe of Gemini, the Ark-La-Tex’s original Mardi Gras parade, is gearing up
for an unforgettable season of spectacle, creativity, and community spirit. With a brand-new parade
theme, The Greatest Show, the krewe is proud to unveil a series of exciting updates — from dazzling float
transformations to culinary competitions and a star-studded Grand Marshal announcement.
The Krewe of Gemini proudly announced Chef Niema DiGrazia, head chef at Abby Singer’s Bistro and
winner of Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay, as the Grand Marshal for the 2026 parade.
A beloved figure in Shreveport’s culinary scene and longtime friend of the Krewe, Chef Niema embodies
the joy, artistry, and cultural celebration that define Mardi Gras. She also served as a guest judge at
Saturday’s Gumbeaux Flambeaux cookoff at the Gemini Den. (A full bio for Chef DiGrazia is included in
the attached release.)
The Krewe of Gemini kicked off its fall festivities with its annual Gumbeaux Flambeaux on Saturday,
October 18th. The friendly cookoff featured float teams competing for the coveted Golden Ladle Award
in both gumbo and lagniappe categories, judged by a panel of local notables: Chef Niema DiGrazia, Josh
Robinson (Vice President of Marketing, Live! Casino), Danny Mobley (Owner, Terra Bella Landscape &
Design), and Wayne Lancaster (Sales Center Manager, Coca-Cola Shreveport).
Members and guests enjoyed a perfect Louisiana afternoon of food, football, and fun — tailgating and
watching the LSU game, playing games, and letting the kids burn energy in the bounce house. The event
once again showcased the krewe’s unmatched spirit of fellowship and friendly competition. Winners of
the Golden Ladle award included a delicious seafood gumbo packed with crawfish, shrimp, and crab; a
chicken, pork, and andouille sausage gumbo topped with fried jalapenos; and a Nutella-stuffed chocolate
chip cookie.
Behind the scenes, the Krewe’s floats have been undergoing a spectacular transformation thanks to the
talented team at Mardi Gras Decorators, a family-owned float painting company from Slidell,
Louisiana. Led by co-owner Rachel Elsensohn, the team has spent weeks in Shreveport turning blank
canvases into moving works of art inspired by The Greatest Show — a theme celebrating the pageantry,
creativity, and global spirit of festivals around the world