New Orleans Saints players, members of the Saintsations and Mascots Gumbo and Sir Saint helped kickoff Mardi Gras weekend by participating in the 45th Annual "Greasing of the Poles" event at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Friday.
The "Greasing of the Poles" ceremony is the long-standing tradition of greasing the support poles as a means to deter people from shimmying up to coveted balcony space above.
Thomas Morstead served as a judge for the event while Austin Johnson, Zach Strief, Ryan Griffin, Terron Armstead, Bryce Harris and Kenny Stills helped hold the ladders.
Prior to the event, the Pussyfooters and the Original Hurricane Brass Band performed for the crowd.
Morstead and the other judges scored the four participants that greased the poles at the entrance of the Bourbon Street hotel.
The event took place at the Royal Sonesta on Bourbon Street on Friday, February 13, 2015. (New Orleans Saints photos)
