Celebrating Zulu in the Heart of Mardi Gras

Zulu is a historic and vibrant celebration that has been a staple of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras festivities since 1909. The parade features iconic floats, marching bands — mostly from HBCUs — and, most famously, the prized Zulu coconuts. The coconuts are hand-painted and decorated, and not everyone who attends the parade is lucky enough to receive one.

Zulu began because the organization behind the parade was founded by African American men who wanted to create their own unique Mardi Gras tradition. To this day, the Zulu parade remains a testament to New Orleans’ rich cultural heritage and strong sense of community spirit.

I asked Kaiden how he felt about the Zulu parade, and he said, “I really like the Zulu parade even though I have never been. I’ve mainly seen it on social media, especially TikTok, and it seems fun. Hopefully, I’ll be able to go in 2027 because it truly seems like a good time.”