Alexandria Mardi Gras Weekend Begins Feb. 28th
Alexandria – Come catch the fun in the Heart of Louisiana for Mardi Gras!
Alexandria kicks off their Mardi Gras weekend Friday, try February 28, store 2014, with the Hixson Autoplex Classic Cars & College Cheerleaders Parade. The Hixson Autoplex CCCC Parade will roll at 4:30 p.m. The parade route will wind through downtown Alexandria, from Murray Street to St. James Street, and will consist of classic cars paired with college cheerleaders from colleges and universities in Louisiana and Arkansas.
Grand Marshal for the Hixson Autoplex Classic Cars & College Cheerleaders Parade will be Lt. General Russel Honoré (RET). In addition to the Honoré, other parade guests include soldiers from Camp Beauregard and Fort Polk and the Victory Belles from the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
The annual Taste of Mardi Gras will commence Friday, February 28 at the Alexandria Riverfront Center in downtown Alexandria. The Taste of Mardi Gras was created in 1997 as a fundraiser for the Cenla Chapter of the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA). The first year it was held in conjunction with the grand opening of the Alexandria Riverfront Center and was named “Taste on the Riverfront.” There were 14 food booths and approximately 350 people attended the first “Taste.” Today, Taste of Mardi Gras has grown to 40 food booths and more than 2,500 attendees annually. The date of the event coincides with the Alexandria Mardi Gras weekend to offer visitors a Friday night event and another reason to come early to central Louisiana for the Mardi Gras weekend celebrations. Tickets are now available at the Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Office, 707 Second Street in Alexandria, or by calling (318) 442-9546 or (318) 729-6045.
The 17th Annual Children’s Parade will roll at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 1. The parade route will wind through downtown Alexandria, from Murray Street to St. James Street. Children are then invited to celebrate Mardi Gras at the Alexandria Zoo for the annual King Cake Party at 2 p.m.! Enjoy king cake, music, costumed characters, and don’t miss the up-close encounters with Zoo animals. Special appearance made by Bugs Bunny and entertainment by the Victory Belles. Zoo admission rates apply.
The YMCA of Central Louisiana will be hosting the Mardi Gras Madness 5K beginning at 1 pm on Sunday, March 2, prior to the Krewes Parade. Learn more at http://www.imathlete.com/events/YMCAMardiGrasMadness5K.
The 21st Annual Krewes Parade will roll Sunday, March 2 at 2 p.m. beginning on Texas Avenue and ending on North Mall Boulevard. This parade began with 10 floats and 4 Krewes to now have 24 floats and 23 Krewes currently participating.
Each year the Alexandria Mardi Gras Association chooses persons of distinction, who have had positive impacts on the quality of life in Louisiana, to serve as parade Grand Marshals. This year’s Krewes Parade Grand Marshal is Kyle Steven Templin, an actor who hails from Pineville.
The goal of the AMGA is to provide a cultural event, appealing to all cross sections of the community, state, and region, to help stimulate the economy.
For additional information, visit the www.alexmardigras.com or www.AlexandriaPinevilleLA.com or call 800-551-9546.
