Chris Owens honored by house float, recounts Pete Fountain Mardi Gras memory

Chris Owens House Float

The parades may not be rolling this year, but the good times still can. We can all keep the Mardi Gras spirit alive this year.

One way people have been doing just that is by turning their houses into floats, and one such house float honored the inimitable Chris Owens – a performer and owner of Chris Owens Club. Scoot spoke with Owens about that house float, her Easter parade, and more.

“That was another honor,” Owens said. “I was driving down St. Charles Avenue. I said, 'Look, there's some beautiful houses with all this.' And I looked, and the first one that came up on St. Charles Avenue was one they had of me with my float and even did my dress and my hat. This is too cool. This is wonderful.”

Her annual Easter parade was canceled last year, unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and it was a blow. Whether there will be a parade this year is up in the air, too.

“Oh, I pray for it every year,” she said. “We wanted it so bad last year. Let's hope they do it this year. I'm ready for it if they do.”

While times are tough right now, we still have our memories.

“You know, I love Pete Fountain; and then I love Al Hirt,” Owens said. “Al Hirt performed for many years across the street from me. And they did a duo. Al was on my balcony for Mardi Gras; and Pete Fountain, of course, had his marching glove. And he was playing his horn...And the crowds just cheer as if you're going crazy. And Pete Fountain, the fun about him [is that] he has a skirt on; and he kept waving it up and down, up and down.”

Her club is a mainstay on Bourbon Street, providing entertainment for countless people over the years.

“I think it's entertainment for what people love and love to do,” Owens said. “I guess that's what it is for other people. For me, I love the music. I love the band. My band is still calling me every day wondering when we're going back on stage.”

“I love what I do, and people actually love the type of music I do,” Owens continued. “I have all the different cultures of music, and I add that to my show. And people love it. At Mardi Gras time and my show for Easter is very, very popular. They were so upset last year when they did not let us do our Easter parade. So, let's, hope they let us again this year.”

It will be another year until we can properly celebrate Mardi Gras, but that hasn't stopped us from celebrating in different – and safe – fashion this year.

Chris Owens
Chris Owens House Float Photo credit WWL/Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee
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Chris Owens
Chris Owens arrive at her House Float in her honor to meet owners Photo credit WWL/Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee
Chris Owens
Chris Owens meet the owners of her house float Photo credit WWL/ Ryan Hodgson Rigsbee
Chris Owens
Chris Owens, 'Queen of Bourbon Street' at her house float Photo credit WWL/Ryan-Hodgson-Rigsbee
Chris Owens
Chris Owens Photo credit WWL/Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee
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