Mother-Daughter Mardi Gras Experience

The good times sure did roll for mother and daughter Cindy and Molly Anapolsky on Valentine’s Day in New Orleans. They were excited to be part of the Cleopatra Krewe on a Mardi Gras float during the first big parade of Carnival season. Molly, a Bellaire High School graduate, is now a pre-med Neuroscience major at Tulane University. Neither she nor her mother fully knew what they were signing up for when Cindy was invited to join the Cleopatra Krewe through a Tulane parents Facebook group, but they were excited. It sounded simple enough: ride on a float and throw out some beads. Now they know it is not quite that simple, but it is an unbelievably fun once-in-a-lifetime experience.

They were expected to either decorate glittery goblets to throw off of the float or to buy their own items in the theme of the float. They decided to purchase special Cleopatra-themed necklaces and toys made just for these parades. “It is a whole other world.” Cindy said. “No one wants the cheap beads.” Spectators look for the best prizes.

Molly said she enjoyed watching the floats last year but remembered not being able to find anything to eat due to all of the restaurants being closed in honor of Mardi Gras. So Cindy made sure to buy snacks to throw off the float, such as Mardi Gras branded caramel corn and cheese puffs. While the Cleopatra Krewe is open to any women to join, the Anapolsky duo ended up seated next to one of Molly’s sorority sisters and her mother. Coincidentally, another Tulane student who went to middle school in Maryland with Molly was seated nearby too. 

The Cleopatra Krewe is ready to go! Cindy Anapolsky is fifth from the top left. 

One of the things that makes the Cleopatra Krewe special is that it is all female in order to honor their notable queen namesake. All 60 women are required to wear the same black tunic, black wig and lipstick kiss leggings. It is also a law that anyone on a Mardi Gras float must wear a mask at all times. 

Molly enjoyed helping Cindy French braid her hair to go under her wig and doing her make-up at her hotel. It was reminiscent of the days when Cindy used to pull Molly’s hair into tight buns for ballet. 

There were 22 total floats. Theirs was number 21. The theme for the parade was Valentine’s Day, and their float theme as “The Kiss” as in notable artworks by Klimt and Eisenstaedt. They paid Krewe dues in order to be part of the group and float. They were harnessed into their seats with carabiners but could easily detach to visit either one of the two port-o-potties on the float. “What a cool and bizarre thing to do with my daughter!” Cindy said.

Molly and Cindy Anapolsky said riding on the Mardi Gras float together was a fun mother-daughter experience. 

Cindy’s husband, and Molly’s father, Jeff followed the float on foot for a bit. They also waved to Molly’s boyfriend and good friends. And they made sure to save some of the good throws for them!

In all of the hustle and bustle, they loved throwing items to the kids. Cindy described it as “Halloween times a thousand.”

Cindy and Molly have decided to make this a twice-in-a-lifetime experience, and they have already signed up for next year’s Krewe along with a roommate mom-duo from Florida. 

Editor’s Note: See the schedule for Mardi Gras New Orleans here. Sticking closer to home? See the lineup for Mardi Gras Galveston here.