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USA TODAY ARTICLE

FEBRUARY 23-25, 1990

MARDI GRAS WARMUP WET

NEW ORLEANS - Dr. Hamid Massiha had waited a year to be king, and refused to let rain interfere with his reign.

His parade - as king of the Krewe of Babylon - was washed this week.

But the krewe's dinner, ball and dawn breakfast went on as scheduled. "I wasn't going to let some rain ruin my turn on the throne," Massiha said.

In New Orleans Parish, five of 30 scheduled Mardi Gras season parades were canceled when papier mache-covered floats got too wet.

The parades-colorful caravans carrying revelers who toss doubloons to the crowds-are traditional during the 12-day season before Mardi Gras.

The revelry peaks with Fat Tuesday's 12 hours of parades. Forecast: sun in the morning, but evening showers.