Texas City Funeral Director Finds Joy in the Vibrancy of Parade Floats

Jay Carnes admitted to struggling with an addiction that he cannot seem to overcome. There are parades happening.

For over three decades, Carnes, the proprietor of Carnes Funeral Home in Texas City, has been an active participant in Mardi Gras parades. His name has become closely associated with the iconic elements of this festive celebration that takes place before Lent.

For a funeral director, engaging in an unusual hobby may seem out of the ordinary, considering their professional obligation to maintain a solemn demeanor.

Texas City Funeral VibrancyPhoto bygalvnews

Carnes admitted to having a deeply ingrained addiction. "In a surprising turn of events, it appears that a small amount of something can be considered satisfactory, but a larger quantity is deemed even more desirable."

In 2004, the story started with a school bus that Galveston ISD put up for auction. According to Carnes, he purchased it for $300. Carnes stated that he had set up the sound and lights and attended Mardi Gras. The speaker referred to their creation as the Dancing Queen, which proved to be immensely popular.

In the past, parade floats lacked sound systems. Carnes, who has a background in the DJ industry, installed a sound system in his bus and played lively, well-known songs such as "Dancing Queen" by Abba, a popular Swedish pop group.

Over the course of two decades, Carnes has seen his fleet of parade vehicles expand. His passion for these vehicles has even inspired others to join in, leading to the creation of the "Carnes Parade Krewe." This dedicated group now operates a total of eight floats, which are a combination of modified trucks and buses.

According to Carnes, the krewe takes part in approximately 70 parades annually, with Mardi Gras being the highlight of their calendar.

Carnes expressed his delight. "During their street performances, the group always plays uplifting music, which prompts people to join in by bouncing, singing, and dancing. This creates a joyful atmosphere for everyone involved." As Mardi Gras parades take place, participants on floats enthusiastically toss beads into the crowd, upholding the cherished tradition of the celebration.

The krewe and floats are gearing up for the upcoming Mardi Gras parades, with about 20 different parades on their schedule. According to Carnes, they need to ensure they have enough beads to go around, especially for the Galveston parades starting in early February.

Carnes stated that he goes through approximately 1,000 bags of beads annually. "There are approximately 365 strands of beads in each bag, leaving one to ponder the ultimate destination of all that plastic." According to Carnes, funeral homes typically do not sponsor parade floats. However, floats serve as effective platforms for advertising.

Carnes recalled an incident where a bereaved father, whose son had lost his life in Iraq, expressed gratitude for the community support provided by their floats. The father even offered the use of his funeral home as a gesture of appreciation. "It has brought to our attention that the majority of individuals in the community value and acknowledge our contributions."

The Source: galvnews