Mardi Gras, which translates as Fat Tuesday, features floats, marching bands and dance crews across multiple days of free parades.
Rea said the marchers had rehearsed a dance routine and would sing as they processed through the streets, adding members of the Osbourne family had travelled from England to watch.
“I would love to get everybody across for Ozzy’s celebration in July in Birmingham,” he said.
“With the one-year anniversary, I think there are plans for that.”
Rea recently published a book called Ozzy and Me, based on notebooks Osbourne gave him while they were on tour together.
It tells the story of their friendship, loyalty and what he describes as wild times.