Mardi Gras

[Suselit]

http://www.eurekaspringsmardigras.org

[rjw1991A1]

I bet that's an interesting party!

[LaJoe]

Mardi Gras is really spreading. It's now in just about every area of Louisiana, a good bit of Mississippi and is growing in Texas and Arkansas. Maybe it will be in St. Louis soon. As for me, I aint a big fan.

[soxster]

Originally Posted by LaJoe

Mardi Gras is really spreading. It's now in just about every area of Louisiana, a good bit of Mississippi and is growing in Texas and Arkansas. Maybe it will be in St. Louis soon. As for me, I aint a big fan.

A couple of parades got rained out the last 2 days here in orange beach. Yeah they are Mardi Gras crazy down this way...like 5 parades in the general area in 2 week period. Thats a lot of parading.

[LaJoe]

Originally Posted by soxster

A couple of parades got rained out the last 2 days here in orange beach. Yeah they are Mardi Gras crazy down this way...like 5 parades in the general area in 2 week period. Thats a lot of parading.

There lots of parades in Shreveport, too, as well as a single parade in many of the small cities and towns.

[rjw1991A1]

Funny, St. Louis claims to have the second biggest Mardi Gras in the country. I have been to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. For that claim to be true there must be only two Mardi Gras celebrations in America!
The St. Louis Mardi Gras is typical St. Louis lame. a dog parade on one Saturday. A "family" parade on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. Then on the actual evening of Mardi Gras, in the traditional French area of Soulard, they shut everything down at 11:00 PM! Make arrests for usual, and common Mardi Gras "activities" involving beads, have a designated outside area where you can drink. Generally discouraging anything but a very mild, and somewhat boring celebration.

[soxster]

Went to an Orange Beach Mardi Gras parade today, first one ever. It was a blast. You have Got to pay attention or you will get whacked with beads and moon pies and a lot of other goodies they are throwing with enthusiasm. Kind of hard paying attention when you are trying to go crazy taking pictures. Probably got 40 bead necklaces, now I now why the kids had sacks..... to carry home all their goodies. 70 degrees and perfect day for a parade then walking to the beach for a few hours.

[LaJoe]

Originally Posted by rjw1991A1

Funny, St. Louis claims to have the second biggest Mardi Gras in the country. I have been to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. For that claim to be true there must be only two Mardi Gras celebrations in America!
The St. Louis Mardi Gras is typical St. Louis lame. a dog parade on one Saturday. A "family" parade on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. Then on the actual evening of Mardi Gras, in the traditional French area of Soulard, they shut everything down at 11:00 PM! Make arrests for usual, and common Mardi Gras "activities" involving beads, have a designated outside area where you can drink. Generally discouraging anything but a very mild, and somewhat boring celebration.

Your mention of the dog parade made me smile as I remembered a parade my wife and I happened upon in Eureka Springs one time. You talk about a laid-back parade. Somebody would wander by with their dog on a leash, both human and animal clothed in totally-crocheted outfits. A few minutes later someone else would come come strolling by. There would be a little burst of parade participants followed by a long period of inactivity. It was the strangest parade we ever attended. You had no idea if it was over or not.

[Suselit]

Originally Posted by soxster

Went to an Orange Beach Mardi Gras parade today, first one ever. It was a blast. You have Got to pay attention or you will get whacked with beads and moon pies and a lot of other goodies they are throwing with enthusiasm. Kind of hard paying attention when you are trying to go crazy taking pictures. Probably got 40 bead necklaces, now I now why the kids had sacks..... to carry home all their goodies. 70 degrees and perfect day for a parade then walking to the beach for a few hours.

I hope I can do that, too, one year. I'm sorry glad you had fun!
Thanks for telling us all about it.
There's a question about Orange Beach area in our Other Destinations Forum. I bet you have more current info than I do...Nov.2017 was my last trip there.