Ian Somerhalder: 'Vampire Diaries' Actor To Serve as Co-Grand Marshal with 'The Walking Dead' Actor Norman Reedus at the 2014 Mardi Gras New Orleans Event

Actor Ian Somerhalder will be heading to his hometown Louisiana to attend the 2014 Mardi Gras event in New Orleans scheduled on Saturday, March 1. Ian, 35, will serve as co-grand marshal next to "The Walking Dead" actor Norman Reedus during the upcoming main event, the Krewe of Endymion Parade & Extravaganza.

Aside from being the co-grand marshal, Entertainment Weekly reports Ian Somerhalder will also hand out the custom "Vampire Diaires" beads to the Mardi Gras crowd. Click HERE to see Entertainment Weekly's exclusive look at the "Vampire Diaries" beads.

"I am so excited to be coming back to my hometown to ride with Endymion. I am so grateful. It's truly an honor," Ian Somerhalder exclusively stated to Entertainment Weekly. The actor expressed as well his excitement for the upcoming event on his Twitter account.

Ian's message on his Twitter account @iansomerhalder reads: "This is SO COOL!!! I'm signing many of these Vampire Diaries Mardi Gras Beads to throw to you;) Hail Endymion!!! http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/02/06/vampire-diaries-ian-somerhalder-mardi-gras/ ..."

This is SO COOL!!! I'm signing many of these Vampire Diaries Mardi Gras Beads to throw to you;)Hail Endymion!!! http://t.co/HhMePnJGM0

— ian somerhalder (@iansomerhalder) Feb. 6, 2014

The WWL.com report has confirmed the other celebrities attending the New Orleans celebration. In addition to actors Ian Somerhalder and Norman Reedus, Grammy-winning singer Carrie Underwood will be performing at the Endymion Extravaganza.

The Krewe of Endymion Parade & Extravaganza full release reads: "Endymion founder and Captain, Ed Muniz, announced celebrity riders and performers for Mardi Gras' Main Event, the Krewe of Endymion Parade & Extravaganza! Endymion rolls on the streets and into the Superdome on Saturday March 1st. Norman Reedus from The Walking Dead and Ian Somerhalder from Vampire Diaries will lead the parade as co-Grand Marshals while Country Music's Reigning Queen, Carrie Underwood will headline the Extravaganza! Kicking it all off, America's largest neighborhood block party is Saturday, March 1st at noon as Samedi Gras features area favorites the Topcats, Groovy 7 and The Bucktown All Stars! Endymion rolls after Samedi Gras at 4:30 on the traditional Mid-City route!
This year's theme is 'An Evening at the Opera' and will feature floats depicting Madame Butterfly, Rigoletto, Phantom of the Opera, Pagliacci and many more! The Wise Guys and Groovy 7 will join Carrie Underwood and Party on the Moon at the Endymion Extravaganza!"

While waiting for the event, fans can watch Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore in "The Vampire Diaries" Season 5 that airs Thursday nights at 8 pm EST on the CW network. Episode 13 titled "Total Eclipse of the Heart" will show Damon going back to his bad and dark ways with Augustine vampire buddy Enzo (Michael Malarkey) while dealing with his breakup with Elena (Nina Dobrev).

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