Chef Niema DiGrazia Krewe of Gemini’s 2026 Grand Marshal

BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — The Krewe of Gemini is preparing for Mardi Gras season and their new parade theme, ‘The Greatest Show,’ with a series of updates.

The Krewe announced Chef Niema DiGrazia, winner of Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay and head chef at Abby Singer’s Bistro, as the Grand Marshal for the 2026 parade.

Chef Niema is a fixture in the Shreveport culinary scene and is known for bringing artistry and cultural celebration to her fare.

On October 18, Chef Niema was also a judge in the annual Gumbeaux Flambeaux.

Float teams participated in a friendly cook-off in hopes of winning the Golden Ladle award in the gumbo and lagniappe categories.

Other area dignitaries joined her as judges, including Josh Robinson, vice president of marketing at Live! Casino, Danny Mobley, owner of Terra Bella Landscape & Design, and Wayne Lancaster, sales center manager for Coca-Cola Shreveport.

Golden Ladle winners included a seafood gumbo full of chicken, pork, and andouille sausage gumbo topped with fried jalapenos, a Nutella-stuffed chocolate chip cookie, and a seafood gumbo filled with shrimp, crawfish, and crab.

Attendees were treated to food, football, and family-friendly fun, including tailgating, an LSU watch party, games, and a bounce house for the kids.

While the Krewe has been delivering public events, members have also been working behind the scenes to prepare for upcoming events.

The Krewe’s floats are being transformed by the family-owned float painting company Mardi Gras Decorators from Slidell, LA.

The team, led by co-owner Rachel Elsensohn, has spent weeks preparing the floats for the ‘Greatest Show’ theme, a tribute to festivals around the world.

Krewe of Gemini Captain Cole Guthrie said, “Gemini is one of the few krewes that completely reinvents its floats each year. With Rachel’s team’s artistry and our members’ imagination, this year’s parade is truly shaping up to be the greatest show on Earth.”

Upcoming events include the Krewe of Gemini Holiday Party on December 15, the Krewe of Gemini Grand Bol on January 31, the Krewe of Gemini Float Loading Party on February 13, and the Krewe of Gemini Parade on February 14, where the new floats make their debut.