New Orleans, La. — Under gray skies, the energetic Krewe of Zulu stepped off a few minutes early Fat Tuesday morning, with thousands lining Jackson Avenue where the parade started.
"Happy Mardi Gras, y'all," a Zulu member yelled.
Every year it's the first parade to roll on Mardi Gras.
"I'm so happy that the rain is holding up for me and we're going to have an exciting Mardi Gras, love you," said King Zulu Cedric George Givens.
The queen was equally elated.
"Happy Mardi Gras, enjoy yourselves," said Zulu Queen Monica Veal Givens, just before boarding her float.
For most parade watchers the thrill of the day is getting one of the Zulu coconuts.
"Oh yes, first coconut, I love it," said Ciara McNeil of Houston.
"I've got a couple of beads, but that said I'm more about the coconuts so I will probably disperse this to children who are yelling. I'm not trying to carry these beads every day," stated Alex Scholfield.
The Zulu fever was not tempered at Gallier Hall.
"I'm little Red Riding Hood, New Orleans-style," said Ella Davis of Houston as she reached for a coconut.
"This is the party of the world, right here. This is the place," said Larry Stark of Las Vegas.
''We always come every year and we have a blast," stated Margaret Sullivan of Dallas.
"Coconuts, absolutely," said Harold Warren of Chicago.
Krewe of Zulu is the first parade to roll on Fat Tuesday.
