MARDI
GRAS
PRESS RELEASES
Just
like the Real thing!
10th
Annual Leesburg Mardi Gras
"Party in the Street"
10th Annual Leesburg Mardi Gras
"Party in the Street"
The 10th Annual Leesburg Mardi Gras "Party in the Street"
Celebration will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.,
Saturday, Feb. 17 in Historic Downtown Leesburg. Many activities
for families are planned during the day to include the Pet and
Kids Masquerade Parades the pet parade features a Talent Show,
Owner/Pet Look-A-Like and Ugliest Pet Contest.
The Kids Masquerade Parade will feature categories of Best
Costume ages 0-4, 5-8, 9-12, best group, best float and best
overall. Registration opens at 10:00 a.m. at 9th and Main
Street. The parade kicks off at 11:00 a.m. and will end at the
Palmetto Street Stage where all contests will be held.
All kids must be accompanied by an adult and be pre-registered.
Registration is free.
Participants may walk, be pulled or be pushed on mini floats,
grocery carts, golf carts or wagons. Pedal or power is
acceptable but no combustion motorized vehicles allowed and
throw beads are encouraged.
Pet Masquerade Parade registration and line-up will kick off at
9th and Main Streets. Registration will open at 1:00 p.m. with
the parade at 2:00 p.m. The parade route is along Main Street
beginning at 9th and Main Streets and will end at the Palmetto
Street Stage where the contest will be held immediately
following the parade.
Parade and talent contest rules require that all pets be
registered and registration is free. Pet must be on a restraint
and children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult
(minimum one adult per child.) Costumes for pets and owners are
encouraged. Grocery carts, wagons, golf carts, yard tractors are
acceptable. No cars or trucks allowed. The Talent Show is
limited to the first 30 entries with a 3-minute stage time. All
pet owners are encouraged to bring their pets even if not
participating in the parade or competition. Contact the
Partnership for details or view
leesburgmardigras.com
During the day, Main Street will come alive as stilt walkers
dressed in authentic Mardi Gras costumes dazzle the crowds with
their antics and stunts. Professional street performers
featuring balloon art, fire eating, juggling, unicycling and the
Dutch Kid Marching Jazz Band will be performing shows throughout
the day. The kid's carnival featuring games and rides is also
scheduled with plans for a bigger and better event.
Live Cajun, Blues and Las Vegas sounds will fill downtown from
one of two stages beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Revelers can enjoy live performances in Towne Square direct from
New Orleans: The Rodney Thibodeaux & Tout Les Soir Band. Lake
County's own PJ Leary¹s Las Vegas Sounds will wrap up the
afternoon¹s events, not to be left out the Palmetto street stage
will feature the pet and kids parade activities from 11 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. with the Beautiful Bobby Blackmon Blues Band rounding
off the afternoon from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
You won't leave hungry.
Little Joe's Concessions will tantalize your taste buds with a
wide variety of festive foods complimenting the many downtown
restaurants who will be open during the event.
The "Party in the Street" Continues into the night with the
ever, famous Main Street Mardi Gras Parade at 7 p.m. lineup
begins at 6 p.m. on Magnolia Street. The Parade Route is along
Main Street beginning at 11th Street and ending at Canal Street.
Entries include marching bands, floats, Zany Marching Krewe,
King and Queen Contestants and street performers. ³Throw me your
beads, Mister² is often heard as thousands of revelers compete
for their share of trinkets and beads along the parade route.
All Parade entries must be registered. Entry fee is $25.00.
Immediately following the parade, hang out as partygoers
converge on downtown for a night of fun and late night parties.
Performing live on two stages will be an entertainment lineup
sure to please. Towne Square will rock with local band the
Justin Heet Band starting at 5:00 p.m. The nights headline band
will be BLACKFOOT who will perform live on stage from 9:30 to
11:00 p.m. Founding members Greg T. Walker, Charlie Hargrett
along with AXE lead singer and former Blackfoot lead guitarist
Bobby Barth are hard at it again. One of the hardest working,
multi Gold and Platinum acts to hit the charts and perform the
world's stages are once more performing their classic tracks
like Train Train, Highway Song, Baby Blue, Fox Chase, Left Turn,
Fly Away and others as well as new songs.
Look for a special performance at the Palmetto Street Stage by
the Bobby Blackmon Band from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Rodney
Thibodeaux & Tout Les Soir Band direct from New Orleans from
7:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Also performing along Main Street will be the 12-piece
Perseverance Brass Band and the largest troupe ever of street
performers including jugglers, fire eaters, unicycle riders,
balloon artists, magicians and stilt walkers all dressed in
Mardi Gras costumes.
Little Joe's Concessions will feature the largest and most
complete selection of festive food combined with downtown
restaurants offering special Mardi Gras menus. Famous Hurricane
Rum Runners & Margaritas, mixed drinks, beer and wine will be
offered from six stations, with prices starting at $4.00 and are
staffed by community non-profit organizations who benefit from
tips, ID's are required, must be at least 21 years of age for
service. No coolers, alcohol or food is allowed to be brought
into the festival area.
Entry into Mardi Gras Celebration is free. Look for volunteers
from local civic groups who will be selling $1 ³I Support the
Leesburg Mardi Gras² stickers. A portion of the proceeds
benefits each group participating, with the balance going
towards the expenses of the festival.
The Leesburg Mardi Gras is a community project of the Leesburg
Partnership To receive a parade or contest application call the
Leesburg Partnership at 352-365-0053. Stop by the office located
at 415 W. Magnolia Street or e-mail
info@leesburgpartnerships.com
or download application on line at
LeesburgMardigras.com.