Iowa Chicken Run
February 28, 2017. Procession goes down Highway 90. $10, under 13 $5.
Centered in the rural suburb of Iowa (pronounced “Ioway”), the Iowa Chicken Run is a relaxed annual event that involves riding a float and throwing beads, chasing chickens, and finishing with some gumbo and toe-tapping live music. All you need to do is follow the Captain’s lead. When he blows his whistle, you either exit your float at a stop or board your float quickly to move on to the next stop. You can also walk or dance between stops. Based on old tradition, the procession stops at different homes along the way where the Captain collects ingredients from homeowners for the gumbo. At stops, folks dance to Zydeco music played on accordions and scrub boards, and then the Captain throws a chicken into the air. When it lands, the chicken starts running, the children chase it, and everyone moves on when the Captain blows the whistle again. Not to burst any bubbles, but the chicken is sometimes actually a rooster, and it isn’t cooked into a gumbo that night. It lives to run again the next year. At the end this event, everyone enjoys a gumbo feast and more music and dancing.
Centered in the rural suburb of Iowa (pronounced “Ioway”), the Iowa Chicken Run is a relaxed annual event that involves riding a float and throwing beads, chasing chickens, and finishing with some gumbo and toe-tapping live music. All you need to do is follow the Captain’s lead. When he blows his whistle, you either exit your float at a stop or board your float quickly to move on to the next stop. You can also walk or dance between stops. Based on old tradition, the procession stops at different homes along the way where the Captain collects ingredients from homeowners for the gumbo. At stops, folks dance to Zydeco music played on accordions and scrub boards, and then the Captain throws a chicken into the air. When it lands, the chicken starts running, the children chase it, and everyone moves on when the Captain blows the whistle again. Not to burst any bubbles, but the chicken is sometimes actually a rooster, and it isn’t cooked into a gumbo that night. It lives to run again the next year. At the end this event, everyone enjoys a gumbo feast and more music and dancing.
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| participants in Iowa Chicken Run in Iowa, Louisiana |
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| masked man in Iowa Chicken Run in Iowa, Louisiana |
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| Zydeco band in Iowa Chicken Run in Iowa, Louisiana |
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| participants in Iowa Chicken Run in Iowa, Louisiana |
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| gumbo ingredients donated by home owner in Iowa Chicken Run in Iowa, Louisiana |
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| rooster participant in Iowa Chicken Run in Iowa, Louisiana |
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| child captures chicken in Iowa Chicken Run in Iowa, Louisiana |
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| chicken-capturer in Iowa Chicken Run in Iowa, Louisiana |
Lake Charles Mardi Gras.
More things to do in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
images and video ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
Looks like fun - I'm glad the chicken lives to tell the tale!
ReplyDeleteAt first glance, being a runner, I thought this was a running race (for humans, not chickens)! What a riot! This just adds to the whole Mardi Gras experience. As Karen said, I'm glad the chicken lives to tell the tale!
ReplyDeleteWell, the chicken in the event lives, but other chickens don't and are part of the gumbo feast.
DeleteWe spent some time in Louisiana a few months ago in NOLA and I've developed a real appreciation for Zydeco music and the sheer energy of both the tunes and the musicians. This Mardi Gras celebration looks like a lot of fun and thinking of a pot of gumbo makes my mouth water. Mmm!
ReplyDelete