New Orleans Rex King of Carnival toast 2026

Rex, King of Carnival, toasts his queen at new location

IN FACT GIVE THE TOAST YOUR FRIENDS TO HIS QUEEN AND THE CITY THAT LOVES YOU HAVE BEEN AWAITING THIS MOMENT WITH GREAT JOY AND ANTICIPATION. TODAY, NEW ORLEANS CROWNS NOT ONLY A KING OF CARNIVAL, BUT A MAN WHOSE LIFE HAS BEEN DEEPLY INTERTWINED WITH THE WATERWAYS, INSTITUTIONS AND PEOPLE THAT SUSTAIN OUR COMMUNITY. A PROUD GRADUATE OF ISIDORE NEWMAN SCHOOL, WHERE YOU WERE BOTH A FOOTBALL LETTERMAN AND THE EDITOR OF THE SCHOOL NEWSPAPER. YOU SHOWED ONLY THAT INTELLECT AND TEAMWORK WOULD TRAVEL TOGETHER IN YOUR LIFE. FROM THERE, YOU WENT ON TO THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, AND IT’S IN MCINTIRE SCHOOL OF COMMERCE, EARNING A DEGREE IN FINANCE AND SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF DELTA KAPPA EPSILON, A ROLE THAT FORETOLD OF A LIFETIME OF LEADERSHIP. AFTER BEGINNING YOUR CAREER IN NEW YORK IN CORPORATE FINANCE, YOU RETURNED HOME TO NEW ORLEANS AND TO CANAL BARGE COMPANY, WHERE OVER FOUR DECADES YOU ROSE THROUGH ITS RANKS TO BECOME ITS PRESIDENT AND CEO. UNDER THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE COMPANY, IT HAS STOOD AS A VITAL AMERICAN MARITIME ENTERPRISE, LINKING COMMERCE, RIVER AND GULF AND QUIET BUT ESSENTIAL WORK THAT KEEPS OUR NATION MOVING. YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS EXTENDED FAR BEYOND BUSINESS. YOU HAVE CHAIRED NATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, GUIDED FOUNDATIONS, STRENGTHENED SCHOOL SUPPORTED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND HELPED SHAPE THE CIVIC LIFE OF THIS CITY THROUGH SERVICE TO THE WATER INSTITUTE OF THE GULF, THE BUREAU OF GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH, THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR TWO MUSEUM, THE IDEA VILLAGE, AND MANY OTHERS. THROUGH THE PRO BONO PUBLICO FOUNDATION, YOU AND YOUR FELLOW REX MEMBERS HAVE HELPED INVEST OVER $16 MILLION IN EDUCATION OF NEW ORLEANS CHILDREN. YOUR HONORS ARE MANY, BUT YOUR GREATEST DISTINCTION IS CONSISTENCY. SHOWING UP FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH STEADY PURPOSE AND THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP. YOU SHARE THIS DAY WITH YOUR WIFE, ELLIE, WHOSE OWN DEVOTION TO ARTS, EDUCATION AND PHILANTHROPY ENRICHES OUR CITY AND WITH YOUR DAUGHTERS, WHOSE PATHS CARRY THE SPIRIT OF NEW ORLEANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. YOUR FAMILY’S ROOTS IN REX RUN DEEP ACROSS GENERATIONS. AND TODAY, THAT HISTORY COMES BEAUTIFULLY FULL CIRCLE. AS YOU TAKE THE THRONE ONCE HELD BY YOUR GRANDFATHER. SO, YOUR MAJESTY, BUSINESSMAN, CIVIC STEWARD, RIVER MAN AND PROUD NEW ORLEANIAN, THE PEOPLE OF YOU ARE WELCOME YOU TO YOUR DAY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RAISE YOUR GLASSES. AND WE HAVE GLASSES HERE. TO HIS MAJESTY, THE KING OF CARNIVAL. H. MCCLAIN, THE THIRD HAIL REX! HAIL, REX! OKAY. ALL RIGHT, GUYS, SO WE ARE WAITING AS THIS DOES HAPPEN. AND AS THIS IS HAPPENING, AND I’M SPEAKING WITH THE PAGE. THIS IS YOUR SON UP THERE. NO, NO NO, NO, THIS TECHNOLOGY IS GREAT WHEN IT WORKS. FAMILY FRIEND. YES. ELIZABETH LEBLANC. CHRISTIE. THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE ACCOLADES. YEAH. COMING TO YOU. IT MEANS EVERYTHING. I CAN’T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT THE FIRST TIME I MET YOU. SOMEWHERE NEAR THE FRONT STEPS OF THE DECALS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, IN 1979. AND TO THINK THAT YOU’RE RIGHT THERE, AND I’M RIGHT HERE, NOBODY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT AT THE TIME. WE’VE COME A LONG WAY. I CHERISH OUR FRIENDSHIP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I AM SO GRATEFUL TO THE REX ORGANIZATION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS HONOR OF A LIFETIME. IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. BEFORE I GET INTO SOME TOAST, I WANT TO INTRODUCE MY PAGES. HOOD. COBB. RICK SMALL PAGE. THEY ARE BRAVE AND HANDSOME AND TAKE AND GET ME THROUGH THE THE BALLS TONIGHT AS WELL. BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO IS TO TOAST MY BEAUTIFUL QUEEN, KELSEY. SHE IS TRULY BEAUTIFUL, GIFTED, SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARILY CHARMING YOUNG LADY. I’M SO HAPPY THAT YOU’RE MY QUEEN. WE’RE GOING TO ENJOY OUR REIGN TOGETHER. IT’S GOING TO BE JUST WONDERFUL WITH THIS SPECTACULAR COURT THAT WE HAVE. THE QUEEN AND I SHARE SOME MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, AND IT’S REALLY COOL THAT WE GET TO PERPETUATE IT NOW. BUT I’LL JUST MENTION TWO OF THEM. I’M LOOKING AT THE QUEEN OF CARNIVAL 1959. YO

Rex, King of Carnival, is reigning over Mardi Gras in New Orleans. On Tuesday, Rex toasted his queen at a new location. The toast was held at the Josephine, a renovated former church on Napoleon Avenue.For Carnival 2025, the toast and stands were moved to Pascal’s Manale restaurant in order for the Queen to have time to participate following an issue in 2024 where the Queen missed her toast. Prior to last year, the toast was always held at a private box at the InterContinental following the King of Carnival’s toast with the mayor at Gallier Hall. Watch Rex’s full speech and toast in the video player above.

Rex, King of Carnival, is reigning over Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

On Tuesday, Rex toasted his queen at a new location.

The toast was held at the Josephine, a renovated former church on Napoleon Avenue.

For Carnival 2025, the toast and stands were moved to Pascal’s Manale restaurant in order for the Queen to have time to participate following an issue in 2024 where the Queen missed her toast.

Prior to last year, the toast was always held at a private box at the InterContinental following the King of Carnival’s toast with the mayor at Gallier Hall.

Watch Rex’s full speech and toast in the video player above.