Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus

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The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is a science fiction–themed Mardi Gras parade organization.

File:Chewbacchus13 Lineup Architect Street UFO 2.JPG
at the 2013 Chewbacchus parade

Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is made up of over 500 dues-paying members[1] who call themselves "BacchanALIENs". The group was founded by self-styled "Publicity Stuntman" and conceptual artist Ryan S Ballard[2] and curator/events director Kirah Haubrich in the fall of 2010. They were soon joined by local attorney Brett Powers and together they comprise the three "Overlords" of the Krewe. Chewbacchus marched for the first time during Mardi Gras 2011.[3]

Their signature parade contraption and mascot is a 7-foot tall "Bar2D2" that dispenses alcoholic beverages pulled by a "XXX-Wing" tricycle.[3] The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus honored New Orleans local Cynthia Scott, from the movie Aliens, as the Queen of Chewbacchus in 2011 and "Lil Doogie" (a locally notorious foul-mouthed comedic puppet rapper) was celebrated as the "Ad Hoc Puppet Government".[4] Giorgio Tsoukalos, consulting producer of the History Channel's Ancient Aliens series, was the King in 2012 and was crowned "Lord of the Chewbaccalypse".[5] Zach Anner rolled with the Krewe as King of Chewbacchus in the 2012 Mid-Summer Mardi Gras parade. In what the media described as a "Cosmic Triumph"[6] actor Peter Mayhew, who played the character of Chewbacca in Star Wars, rode in an oversized Wookiee Throne on top of a spectacularly detailed Millennium Falcon contraption[7] as the Krewe of Chewbacchus' "Emperor for Life" in their 2013 Mardi Gras parade on January 26, 2013.[8][9][10]

All of the Krewe's parade contraptions are environmentally friendly, made with recycled materials, and are human and electric powered.[11] These contraptions are either pushed, pedaled or pulled and are built onto bicycles, homemade trailers, and shopping carts.[12] The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus' ethos is defined by satirical jabs at pop culture and multi-layered science fiction references.[13] Its official slogan is "Saving the Galaxy... One Drunken Nerd at a Time".[14]

The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is responsible for some notable hoaxes and publicity stunts and has been praised for its clever pranks.[15] It kicked off its 2012 season with a guerrilla marketing campaign centered on an elaborate Bigfoot hoax[16] by a fake organization, the New Orleans Bigfoot Society (N.O.B.S.), that claimed that Sasquatch lurked in New Orleans City Park.[17] After generating controversy among both the media and the Bigfoot research community,[18] the creature was eventually revealed to be a "Drunken Wookiee".[19] During the summer of 2012 the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus expanded its fan base beyond Science Fiction to include Fantasy and Horror and announced it with a publicity stunt by organizing a fake protest by the "Mystik Krewe of P.U.E.W.C. (People for the inclusion of Unicorns, Elves, and Winebots in Chewbacchus)" at its second annual Alien Beach Party at Tipitina's.[20] In late November 2012, the krewe was responsible for a prank website that quickly drew the ire of NASA by announcing that the Curiosity rover had located Mardi Gras beads on Mars and that the famous Martian "face" was in fact a Wookiee temple.[21][22] As a gesture of goodwill the Overlords of Chewbacchus offered the entire Mars Rover team free memberships in the Krewe.[23]

The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is also remarkable for its rapid pace of growth and popularity among local New Orleanians, gaining momentum from a small core group in its first few weeks to over 300 dues-paying members in its first year (2011). Membership grew to 400 members in 2012. Over 500 dues-paying members marched in the 2013 parade and estimates place audience attendance at approximately 20,000 people.[1]

References

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External links

Official website

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