NEW ORLEANS — Carnival royalty arrived in New Orleans Thursday.
Jensen Ackles, the actor, director and star of the horror fantasy series "Supernatural" is taking on a new role as Bacchus LI. Ackles arrived by motorcycle escort Thursday and greeted fans and the Warren Easton Band at the downtown Hilton Hotel.
He said he has been trying not to listen to anyone telling him about Mardi Gras, so that he can experience it all as a rookie.
"Some people have told me a little about this, a little about that," he said after arriving at the hotel. "To be honest, I'm trying not to hear it because I want it all to be a big surprise."
From the hotel, Bacchus LI was scheduled to be fit for his costume for Sunday's parade.
Earlier this week, Ackles' wife Danneel shared a photo of Instagram with the caption "It’s Bacchus week Baby!!!! All Hail Bacchus LI"
"I've come to this city many times (but never for Mardi Gras)," he said. "I love this town. My wife is from Louisiana. My in-laws are all Louisiana, so I love coming to this town and when this opportunity arose, you can't say no to that."
Friday, Bacchus LI is scheduled to visit Children's Hospital for a traditional visit with patients and their families.
Ackles, 40, stars as Dean Winchester in the "Supernatural" series on the CW network, which is currently in its 14th season. Ackles has been a regular on the show since 2005. On the show, his character joins his brother in driving throughout the U.S. to hunt paranormal predators, demons, angels and other fantasy and sci-fi creatures.
Ackles has also had roles on the TV series “Dark Angel,” “Smallville” and “Dawson’s Creek” and starred in the 2009 remake of the cult film “My Bloody Valentine 3D” and the animated film “Batman: Under the Red Hood.”
He also starred as Eric Brady on the daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” earning three Daytime Emmy Award nominations.
Bacchus' 51st parade will roll on March 3. The theme, “Starring Louisiana,” will celebrate films and TV series shot or set in Louisiana, including “Streetcar Named Desire,” “King Creole,” “Easy Rider,” “American Horror Story,” “Treme,” and “NCIS: New Orleans.” The new super floats for the Kong family and Bacchaneer, which debuted in 2018, will also return along with other Bacchus signature floats.
RELATED: Krewe of Bacchus parade route
Ackles will join the ranks of past Bacchus kings including last year’s monarch, Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons; Danny Kaye, the first Bacchus; and Bob Hope, Will Ferrell, Anthony Mackie, Harry Connick Jr., Perry Como, Andy Garcia, Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Raymond Burr and many more.
Bacchus was founded in 1968 by restaurateur Owen "Pip" Brennan, Jr. and is now celebrated as one of the most important and popular krewes in Carnival history. The parade, which started out with just 250 members, has now grown to more than 1,600 members. Its first parade rolled in 1969.
Bacchus is once again partnering with WWL-TV for exclusive coverage of the parade from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center where the Bacchus Rendezvous is held each year. The parade will air March 3 on Channel 4, WWLTV.com, WWL-TV's mobile app and Facebook page.