Krewe du Vieux has announced that Franziska Trautmann, co-founder of Glass Half Full, will reign as monarch for the January 31, 2026 parade.
While the royalty selection process is shrouded in secrecy, an unidentifiable Krewe member stated that Queen Franziska was chosen in recognition of her innovative approach to recycling and coastal restoration, her support for the local arts community, and her background in chemical engineering, a subject near and dear to many Krewe members’ hearts.
Since its inception, Glass Half Full has recycled some 12 million glass bottles (approximately 17% of which were emptied by Krewe members), keeping the glass out of landfills, saving taxpayers millions of dollars, and providing ground glass for everything from wetlands replenishment to artistic installations to construction projects.
The Krewe writes: “When forced to comment on this dubious distinction, the Marchioness of the Marshes said, ‘Being Queen of Krewe du Vieux means everything to me. It truly is my favorite parade. It’s a parade with a purpose, to make people laugh, or think, or care about something. It’s the perfect intersection of my two favorite things: having fun, and making people think more deeply about things.’ She will embody her royal reign as Glass Girl, accompanied by her consort and co-founder Max Steitz as Bayou Boy. The royal pair will ride in a glass airboat float, thankfully without the typical deafening engine roar (barring a particularly noisy mule). Before slipping off to add her own contribution to the recyclables collection, the Baroness of Broken Glass had some very sage advice for her loyal subjects: ‘Throw sustainable throws, recycle your glass, and always pass a good time!'”
The Krewe du Vieux will parade on Saturday, January 31, 2026. The route will begin in the Faubourg Marigny and then attempt to navigate the “maze of torn-up streets in the French Quarter” before ending at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. The annual Krewe du Vieux Doo will follow and is open to the public. More information will be posted on the KdV website, www.kreweduvieux.org.
