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Every year during this time, people flock
to New Orleans to celebrate the well- known
event known as Mardi Gras (an expression from the French meaning “Fat
Tuesday”). This “Carnival” began in 1827, when a group of students,
recently returning from school in Paris, donned strange costumes and
danced through the streets. The first description of a Mardi Gras parade
is of a single float in 1839, and the event continued to grow with each
passing year.
But traveling to New Orleans to enjoy Mardi
Gras was not necessary for Central Floridians recently because Mardi
Gras was celebrated in Leesburg during the weekend of February 7-8. For
the sixth year in a row, the Leesburg Mardi Gras was held complete with
masquerades, parades, beads, Cajun food and plenty of music.
This year’s celebration began with
 the Mardi
Gras Ball, which was held on Friday evening in the 1889 Opera House in
the heart of Leesburg. This reception was called the “Crowning Event”
because it is there that King Rex and Queen divine of the Mardi Gras
were crowned, while costumed masqueraders and formally clad attendees
danced and cavorted until well after midnight.
On Saturday, there were festivities of all
kinds along Main Street from 11 AM until 11 PM. They began with a Dog
Masquerading Parade, a dog talent show, a Dog/Owner Look-Alike Contest
and the crowning of Dog Rex and Dog Divine. The Kid’s Parade gave the
young ones a chance to get into the spirit of the event by dressing up
in costumes and competing for prizes. This parade concluded when Taylor
Scarbrough, who is 3 years old, was crowned Prince Rex, and Elizabeth
Powers, who is 5 years old, was crowned Princess Devine.
Street performers included stilt walkers,
jugglers, clowns, and balloon artists, and there were a number of
activities for the kids, such as the giant slide, pony rides, rock
climbing and other amusements. Vendors sold brightly colored wigs and
the Leesburg Center for the Arts had a moving float that threw beaded
necklaces into the crowd
Ten musical groups, some of which paraded
along Main Street during the day, and others that performed from one of
three street stages, provided music. Rodney Thibodeaux and Tout Le Soir
was a featured band both the Friday Mardi Gras ball and also at the Town
Square Stage on Saturday, a group that came from the bayous of New
Orleans. The Dutch Kid Jazz Band and the Perseverance Brass Band
entertained the attendees with lively music, and the Orlando Regional
Police and Pipes and Drums Band filled the evening with music.
A variety of food and drink is a must for
any type of festival, and there were plenty of choices in this area.
Festive food, wine, draft beer and rum runners were available along Main
Street.
The Leesburg Mardi Gras, under the direction
of the Leesburg Partnership, has become larger each year, and the
Partnership expects to continue this popular event for many years to
come. It is only one of the many types of events that occur throughout
the year for the residents of Central Florida.
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