By Tammy Smith
There’s a new krewe on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and it’s all about the ladies.
The Krewe of Aurora was established in April 2021 and now has about 100 members. Aurora was designed to give women an opportunity to enjoy the fun and festivities of Carnival season.
“A bunch of us wanted something different,” explains Aurora Captain Farris Freeman. “We wanted to give everyone a chance to join, an opportunity to be part of a krewe.”
For many female krewes, joining depends on being added to a long wait list or receiving an invitation from a current member.
For Aurora, “You just have to be over the age of 21,” Freeman says. In addition to having members from across the Coast, she adds, “We have members in Panama City (Florida), Tennessee and Louisiana.”
Aurora’s ball lines also offer something for everyone.
“We have non-dancing and dancing lines. So, if you want to do the dance moves, you can, and if you don’t, you can still be out there in costume,” Freeman says. The krewe’s costumes are being made in Kenner, Louisiana.
This newest member of the Mississippi Coast Mardi Gras krewes is named for the goddess of dawn in Roman mythology; ancient Greeks knew her as Eos. The krewe’s logo shows Aurora holding a golden sun. Krewe colors are purple (royal majesty, sovereignty and justice), pink (love, kindness and femininity) and orange (enthusiasm, creativity, encouragement and determination).
During their first year, the Krewe of Aurora has been having fun with events such as a fall cocktail party, a drag brunch and a $1,000 drawdown and silent auction at The Cannery. The ball will be held New Year’s Eve, with the theme “Aurora Takes Reign,” and entertainment will be provided by Atlanta band Party Nation.
The ladies of Aurora also will get to parade their first year.
“We’ll be in the Neptune parade,” scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, in downtown Biloxi, Freeman says.
To learn more about the Krewe of Aurora, including membership details, visit www.kreweofaurora.com, or visit their Facebook page.