§ 6-80. Bands.

(a)

(1)

Each float parade organization shall contract for the minimum of ten (10) units to participate in its parade. Of the ten (10) units, at least seven (7) must be traditional marching bands (middle, junior, high school, college, military, and/or university marching bands) composed of no fewer than thirty (30) musicians per marching band.

(2)

The remainder of the musical units necessary to comply with the provisions of this section may consist of rolling or walking jazz bands, mechanical calliopes, fife and drum units such as those accompanying dance schools and may appear in any combination. Additionally, any other musical group which, in the opinion of the office, is comparable in quality to these types of groups shall count toward the number of musical units necessary to comply with the provisions of this section.

(3)

However, notwithstanding the provisions of section 6-80(a)(1) above, beginning with the year 2018, the number of traditional marching bands of the ten (10) units with which each float parade organization must contract shall increase by one (1) per year, such that float parade organizations shall contract with no fewer than eight (8) traditional marching bands for the year 2018, with no fewer than nine (9) traditional marching bands for the year 2019, and with no fewer than ten (10) for the year 2020.

(4)

Further, notwithstanding the provisions of this section, eligible krewes may receive some or all of the following incentives:

a.

For any krewe permitted to parade on a Family Gras/Mardi Gras event day, the required minimum number of traditional marching bands shall be reduced by two (2) bands;

b.

For any new krewe permitted to parade on a Family Gras/Mardi Gras event day, the required minimum number of traditional marching bands shall be additionally reduced by two (2) bands for the first permitted year and by one (1) band for the second permitted year; and

c.

For any krewe permitted to parade immediately before or immediately after the parade of another krewe, the required minimum number of traditional marching bands shall be reduced by two (2) bands.

(b)

Each band or marching unit that contains at least one (1) person under the age of eighteen (18) shall provide a minimum of one (1) adult chaperon per every fifteen (15) participants, regardless of age. Each band chaperon shall be at least twenty-one (21) years old and be recognized by wearing identification approved by the carnival office and worn on the outer garment.

(c)

The parades which are rescheduled because of inclement weather should endeavor to comply with the provisions of this subsection but shall not be required to provide the minimum number of bands required in sub paragraph (a).

(Ord. No. 23544, § 1, 5-6-09; Ord. No. 24176, § 5, 12-7-11; Ord. No. 25273 , § 2, 12-7-16; Ord. No. 25688 , § 4, 10-24-18)