Go 'Down the Rabbit Hole' at Shreveport's Krewe of Justinian's Mardi Gras coronation

Maggie Martin, Shreveport Times
·2 min read

When Krewe Justinian XXX Captain Amy Gardner-Day stood up at the Justinian Announcement Mixer  Aug. 5 to introduce  2024 royals, Queen-To-Be Alison Byrd was nowhere to be seen.

She took a hike.

Well, a bicycle ride. In Vermont with Adventure Rides, joined by her husband Caddo Dist. Judge Edwin Byrd III, King Justinian XXII.

Krewe of Justinian XXX Captain Amy Gardner-Day with outgoing Captain XXIX Nancy Cooper at the krewe's coronation event on August 12, 2023.
Krewe of Justinian XXX Captain Amy Gardner-Day with outgoing Captain XXIX Nancy Cooper at the krewe's coronation event on August 12, 2023.

"She is 50 miles into a 200-mile ride," explained Gardener-Day at the earlier fete filled with Carnival Court members.

The bicycle ride concluded; Alison did show up for the  Aug. 12 black-tie Justinian  "Down the Rabbit Hole" Coronation at Sam's Town Casino and Hotel.

On that evening, Caddo Dist. Judge Don Hathaway Jr. exchanged judicial robes and a gavel for a chalice to rule for 2024 as Krewe Justinian XXX. Alison, a clinical social worker, was crowned and sashed Queen Justinian XXX. (Both ordered their crowns online and Queen Alison, her Peter Max-inspired primary-colored swirling paisley print frock.)

Krewe of Justinian XXX Queen Alison Byrd and King Donald E. Hathaway Jr. at the coronation event on August 12, 2023.
Krewe of Justinian XXX Queen Alison Byrd and King Donald E. Hathaway Jr. at the coronation event on August 12, 2023.

Joining King Don and Queen Alison on the royal court:

  • Dukes Thomas Mayfield and  Mike Marino

  • Duchesses Claire L. Hill and  Valerie DeLatte

  • Prince Thomas Hathaway, son of King Don and his wife, former Justinian Queen Camille Hathaway.

  • Princess Codi  Setters, law clerk for Hathaway and  Caddo Dist. Court Judge Brady O'Callaghan.

Royals cavorted on the dance floor, frequently changing partners as they "do-si-do" in a slightly more relaxed coronation. Egged on by fans, they air kissed, hugged and dropped hands full of beads they couldn't untangle to toss as they marched, jumped and skipped down the entrance aisle.

A Captain's Council on the dance floor for former Justinian captains: Deryl Medlin, Greg Batt, Brian Landry and Claude Bookter on August 12, 2023.
A Captain's Council on the dance floor for former Justinian captains: Deryl Medlin, Greg Batt, Brian Landry and Claude Bookter on August 12, 2023.

Party Patter

  • Stepping up, perennial Justinian Emcee Kenny Haines said he becomes president of the Shreveport Bar Association on Jan. 1.

  • Accompanying Queen Alison down the Rabbit Hole Coronation entrance were her grandson Harrison Byrd and Niece Camille Lofton.

  • Escorting Captain Amy were her Niece Evangelyn Gardner and Goddaughters Aery E. Buhl and TallulahCounts.

  • In numbers and following tradition retired Caddo District Judge and Justinian King VII Gene Bryson led the Carnival Court in a parade down the rabbit hole to kick off the festivities.Duchess Valerie is a pickleball devotee. Asked her law specialty, she quipped: " (I) specialize in fixing things that people have broken," according to the coronation script.

  • And Shreveport City Judge Emily Merckle and hubby Chris Merckle shared this news: Their baby was born May 31 at Highland Christus. "Seventeen days early and there was a full moon," Emily said. His name: "WilliamWainwright Merckle and we will call him Wright." Journalist John Settle is a grandfather.

Justinian XXIX King U.S. District Court Judge Maury Hicks toasts Justinian XXX King Caddo Circuit Court Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr at the krewe's coronation event on August 12, 2023.
Justinian XXIX King U.S. District Court Judge Maury Hicks toasts Justinian XXX King Caddo Circuit Court Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr at the krewe's coronation event on August 12, 2023.

More A-Listers:

Harrison Byrd escorts his grandmother Justinian XXX Queen Alison Byrd as they come out of "The Rabbit Hole" for their presentation at the Krewe's coronation event in August 2023.
Harrison Byrd escorts his grandmother Justinian XXX Queen Alison Byrd as they come out of "The Rabbit Hole" for their presentation at the Krewe's coronation event in August 2023.

  • Independence Bowl Chief Missy Setter and husband, Kenny, Boyd

  • Sandy Parker

  • Steve and Berry Glassell

  • Elizabeth Glassell

  • Greg and Kay Batte

  • Claude and Jan Bookter

  • Camille Hathaway

  • Patrick Day

  • Kem and Gayla Hargrove

  • Caddo District Judge Grady O'Callaghan

  • Justinian 2023 King U.S. Dist. Judge Maurie Hicks and wife Glynda

  • Ron and Natalie Miciotto

  • Newspaper Columnist Royal Alexander

  • Charlotte Bryson

  • Jim and Mary Bolin

  • Brenda Cummings Pettit

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport krewe celebrates coronation with Alice in wonderland theme