Mission

The Krewe of Athena Carnival Club, Inc. exists to promote a sense of community through sisterhood, service, fellowship, and fun and is committed to preserving and celebrating the rich traditions of Mardi Gras by hosting a beautiful street parade and grand Carnival Ball.

History

The Krewe of Athena Carnival Club was incorporated in March of 2014, but the love of Mardi Gras, sisterhood, and comradery that has become synonymous with the Krewe of Athena began over 30 years ago with a family tradition that would nurture a love for all things Mardi Gras in years to come.

 

Motivated by this love of Mardi Gras and a passion to positively impact her community, the founding member, Dr. Taisha Williams-Payne convened a group of Mardi Gras veterans to begin the arduous task of chartering a Mardi Gras krewe different from any of its predecessors.  She would envision a Mardi Gras organization committed to fostering a platform that promoted sisterhood, mentoring, community service, and wholesome fun.

 

On June 11, 2014, the Jefferson Parish Council granted approval to change the parish ordinance to allow the newly formed Krewe of Athena to apply for a parade permit.  This approval would be solidified when the Jefferson Parish Office of Citizens’ Affairs approved the krewe’s application and granted permission for the Krewe of Athena to present its inaugural parade on Friday, February 6, 2015 at 7:30 pm on the traditional Metairie route.

 

Since its inception, the Ladies of the Krewe of Athena have worked diligently to honor the organization’s commitment to promoting a sense of community through sisterhood, service, fellowship, and fun.  The Ladies of Athena have embraced every opportunity to utilize the popularity and rich traditions of Mardi Gras as a platform to positively impact the community.

​

Founders

 

 

Mythology

Athena is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. Athena was, perhaps, the wisest, most courageous, and certainly the most resourceful of the Olympian gods. Her tree is the olive, which represents peace, and the owl is her bird, which represents wisdom.

 

Athena had three sisters commonly referred to as the  Graces. They were the goddesses of joy, pleasure, grace, beauty, festivity, adornment, dance, and song.

​

 

​