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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.