Parade pioneer Jay Carnes earns lifetime award for decades of floats

Interestingly, Jay Carnes, now a prominent funeral home owner in South Houston and Texas City, began his career as a teenage DJ. At that time, he transported speakers in a hearse, utilizing a casket for storage.

Today, he stands as one of the most notable participants in Mardi Gras celebrations! Galveston has been recognized for its significant impact on the island's parades, transforming them with innovative music-driven floats and imaginative showmanship.

This season, the George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award will honor Carnes, an undertaker and entrepreneur from Galveston County. This prestigious lifetime achievement award is named after the late philanthropist who played a pivotal role in revitalizing Galveston’s Mardi Gras celebrations in 1985, following a long period of inactivity. The festivities for this year are scheduled to take place from February 6 to February 17.

Carnes recalls witnessing the inaugural revived parade during his senior year of high school while employed at a service station on 25th Street.

“I was aware that a parade was scheduled, but I was taken aback by the scale of it,” Carnes remarked. “From that moment on, it became clear that my involvement was essential.”

Following completion of a marketing degree at Stephen F. Austin State University and a short tenure managing Melody Record Shop, Carnes made a return to the funeral industry, as well as to the festivities of Mardi Gras. A surplus fire truck was purchased at auction for $450 and is now used in parades as a mobile advertisement for a local funeral home.

Shortly thereafter, he acquired a decommissioned school bus and converted it into the well-known “Dancing Queen,” complete with vibrant lights and an impressive sound system. In an era dominated by traditional marching bands, Carnes revolutionized parade entertainment by introducing DJ-driven floats that featured an array of popular music hits.

“We believe our efforts have significantly transformed the Mardi Gras parades in Galveston,” Carnes stated. “The absence of golf carts and car clubs was notable.” Previously, such elements were absent from these parades.

Over time, his fleet grew to include nine vehicles. Carnes reported that he took part in as many as 70 parades each year, ranging from high school homecomings to Houston’s Art Car Parade and Independence Day festivities. He played a significant role in expanding Texas City’s Mainland Mardi Gras Parade and championed the move of Galveston’s Fourth of July parade to the evening, resulting in increased attendance.

Carnes suggests that almost all individuals who have participated in parades spanning from Houston to Galveston over the last twenty years are familiar with his funeral home brand.

“We confront issues of death and depression every day,” he stated. "A form of relief is essential."

In the lead-up to Mardi Gras, extensive preparations unfold over a two-month period, involving meticulous mechanical work and thorough sound checks. Setbacks, including the need to hire a tow truck to recover the Dancing Queen after it broke down following Hurricane Ike, have not deterred the ongoing performance.

Carnes has announced plans to scale back following the tossing of millions of beads. He has made multiple donations of floats and aims to shift his focus from logistics to prioritize riders' entertainment.

Despite the circumstances, he intends to remain on the parade route. Carnes expressed that witnessing the smiles on people's faces is truly uplifting.