Two Southwest Louisiana Natives To Ride In The 2023 Rose Bowl Parade

For the third year in a row, a float dedicated to Louisiana will roll down the streets of Pasadena, California, in the 2024 Tournament of Roses Parade. This year, not just one, but TWO Southwest Louisiana girls will be on the Louisiana-inspired float!

The theme of this year's parade is "Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language."

“Louisiana is a perfect fit for the theme of music. Music is a part of our culture, from Mardi Gras to our festivals, to our daily lives. We will kick off our new marketing campaign, Year of Music, in 2024 with this parade and we know we’re going to put on a show the audience will never forget,” said Nungesser. “Our riders this year represent the celebratory spirit of Louisiana and our performers are bringing authentic Louisiana flare.”

The tourism office says the float will feature a "larger-than-life" Mardi Gras jester, fleur-de-lis, second-line inspired umbrellas, and lots of purple, green, and gold with performances including sights and sounds of a Louisiana Mardi Gras. Performances on the float will include Grammy-nominated Zydeco musician Sean Ardoin, Cajun fiddler Amanda Shaw, and legendary guitarist James Burton.

Photos of the float have already begun to surface. Here are some of the photos we have found...

TWO Southwest Louisiana girls will be representing our portion of the state on the float! Kennidy Elizabeth Ann Peavy (Rosepine) and Jordyn Finlyn Kelley (Lake Charles) will both be representing our area in the Rose Bowl Parade. Kennidy is the 2023 Southwest Louisiana Miss Queen Mardi Gras and Jordyn is the 64th Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival Queen.

Here are some of the photos they have shared so far from their trip...

Here is the complete list of riders.

• Sydney “Big Sid” Williams; Owner, El Sid O’s Zydeco & Blues Club (Lafayette Travel – Premier Sponsor)
• Katrice Lacour; Zydeco musician (Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau – Premier Sponsor)
• Curtis Doucette, Jr.; Lead developer of renovations at Dew Drop Inn (New Orleans & Company – Premier Sponsor)
• Kasia Trepagnier; Actress/Producer (Tangipahoa Convention & Visitors Bureau – Premier Sponsor)
• James Burton; Legendary guitarist (Visit Shreveport-Bossier – Premier Sponsor)
• Amanda Shaw; Cajun fiddler (Visit The Northshore – Premier Sponsor)
• Laura Jane Kirkpatrick; Miss Louisiana’s Teen 2023 (Baton Rouge)
• Zharia Lemar; Miss Festival of the Bonfires XXXIII (St. James Parish – selected by First Lady-elect Sharon Landry)
• Destiny Wilrye; 2023 Miss Ragley Heritage and Timber Festival (Beauregard Parish – selected by First Lady-elect Sharon Landry)

The Rose Parade, presented by Honda, will be in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 1, 2024.