“Today’s Little Rascals Are Tomorrow’s Leaders And Our Hope For The Future”. This is the motto of the Krewe of Little Rascals, a non-profit organization named after Hollywood’s most famous kids’ group.

The Krewe of Little Rascals was formed in 1983 by Jack and Maureen Spittler, who wanted to give the children of the New Orleans area their own unique Mardi Gras experience. It is a youth-oriented Mardi Gras tradition, with members ranging from 2 – 19, founded in 1983 and patterned after the adult carnival clubs. The Krewe was built with the intentions of promoting the qualities of leadership and self-esteem in our members and fellowship among our families. Children should be children, and ALL children should have the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential regardless of race, color, economic background, religion or special needs. First year membership was approximately 70 members. Today we average approximately 350+ members, with a percentage coming from agencies that serve physically and emotionally challenged children. Originally The Krewe of Little Rascals Ball was held at the St. Bernard Civic Center. In 1992, we moved to the new Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, La., near New Orleans International Airport. In 2023 we moved to the Alario Center in Westwego.

When the Krewe began there were only 3 Krewe floats plus the royal floats. Now our parade has 18+ floats, including Court floats and Krewe floats. These floats are joined by marching groups, bands, horseback riding groups, car clubs, our Celebrity Grand Marshall and much more, totaling over 85+ units. From 1983 to 1988, the parade rolled out of a city park and traveled only a little over 2 miles. Since 1989, the parade’s length and the crowd’s size required a move to the traditional 4-mile parade route along Veterans Boulevard in Metairie which is used by the adult Krewes. Tens of thousands lined the parade route and hundreds of thousands watch as our family-oriented parade is aired on area T.V. The Krewe gained international exposure through a 1997 segment on T.V. in Japan and our 1998 feature article in National Geographic World Magazine. In 1987 Arthur Hardy, author of the Mardi Gras Guide, said of the Krewe “…with the support of residents and businesses in the Kenner-Metairie community, the Little Rascals may be destined to make Mardi Gras history by surviving as a quality organization for youngsters”. The Krewe also has several sponsors from Texas. In 2008, more than 20 years later, Arthur Hardy writes of the Krewe “Little Rascals is the longest running, most flamboyant, most successful organization for young people in the history of Mardi Gras”.

Our efforts for our members center around the Mardi Gras season and with membership, fund raisers and the help of sponsors, provide an opportunity for children to participate in this fun-filled youth organization where they can just be kids. Each member can enjoy supervised activities that include being presented at our annual Coronation Ball where the year’s King and Queen are announced, participation in a black-tie Tableau Ball which features a live orchestra and riding on beautifully decorated 40’ floats in a four-mile Sunday afternoon street parade totaling 85+ units. Costume design and construction including gowns, capes, head pieces and themed collars were hand crafted by Jack Spittler. Ball scripts were also created by Jack Spittler. With the help of many wonderful volunteers, who donate endless hours decorating, hot gluing, etc. to The Krewe of Little Rascals, the Krewe has been very successful. The original Court costumes were sewn by Maureen Spittler and the Krewe costumes were made by the Krewe parents. Since 1989 we have had professionally sewn costumes for Court and Krewe. Many of the backstage duties at the Ball are assigned to past members that have grown up with the Krewe. We have several second-generation Little Rascals members and this year a possibility of third generation Little Rascal. Our parade on February 5, 2023, attracted a crowd of over 250,000, three times as many people as the crowd who attend the Super Bowl.