Jay Carnes to be honored with George Mitchell Mardi Gras Award
Galveston, TX, (November 6, 2026) — Mardi Gras! Galveston is delighted to announce the distinguished and final recipient of the prestigious George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award: Jay Carnes. Jay will be honored at an awards ceremony on Friday, February 6, 5:30 PM, as part of the kick-off to Mardi Gras festivities. The legendary Beatles cover band, THE FAB 5, will take the stage to ignite the evening, and we’ll officially launch the Mardi Gras festivities with a dazzling parade at 7:30 PM.
Event Highlights:
5:00 PM: THE FAB 5 Kick-Off Block Party
5:30 PM: George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award Presentation
6:15 PM: THE FAB 5 Performance
7:30 PM: George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award Honoree Parade
8:15 PM: Final THE FAB 5 Performance
Jay Carnes, a true BOI, is a passionate Galveston native and an alumnus of Ball High School (’85) and Stephen F. Austin State University (’89). His life has been a vibrant mix of entrepreneurial spirit, unexpected ventures, and, most notably, a deep commitment to the revelry of Mardi Gras.
Carnes’s unique journey began with a mobile Disc Jockey Service in high school, where he famously transported his equipment—mounted inside a casket—using his brothers’ hearse. After college, he owned Texas’ oldest record store, Melody Record Shop, and continued DJing until he opened Carnes Funeral Home in 2004.
His parade obsession sparked with a $500 impulse buy: a fire truck. Though he had no practical use for it, it quickly became the vehicle to lead the Ball High School Band. Driven by what he calls his “addictive behavior,” he soon created the iconic “The Dancing Queen” bus—the first non-official, music-equipped float in the parades—followed by a fleet including “The Dancing King” and “The Yaga Bus Float.”
When his childhood friend, Mike Dean, became the official Mardi Gras! Galveston promoter, he knew Carnes and his floats were essential to the celebration’s expansion. Helping to add numerous parades throughout the two weekends, Carnes formed the Carnes Parade Krewe, cleverly using his floats, emblazoned with Carnes Funeral Home, as an unusual but highly effective advertising tool.
Carnes has participated in an incredible 70+ parades annually, including Mardi Gras! Galveston, the Houston Art Car Parade, and various local Christmas and homecoming events. He is also the founder of the Mainland Mardi Gras parade and took over the Galveston 4th of July parade a decade ago. While he plans to reduce his float footprint—like donating “The Dancing Queen” to the 2025 Newe Krewe Awardee, TuTu Live Krewe —he will keep his most treasured vehicles, including the 1954 fire truck, and remain a core participant in Galveston’s revelry.
Beyond the parades and his multiple funeral organizations, Jay has been married to Lori Fogarty Carnes for 31 years, and they have a daughter, Elizabeth, who plans to attend SFA, continuing the family tradition.
Jay Carnes’s dedication and flair for festivity have profoundly shaped the landscape of Galveston’s Mardi Gras celebration, making him a truly deserving recipient of the George Mitchell Award.
Get ready to kick off the revelry! We’re celebrating Jay Carnes and presenting him with the George Mitchell Award at a massive Block Party presentation on Friday, February 6th in front of the Tremont Hotel! The legendary Beatles cover band, THE FAB 5, will take the stage to ignite the evening, and we’ll officially launch the Mardi Gras festivities with a dazzling parade at 7:30 PM!