It’s time for the Asbury Park Mardi Gras Celebration!
Come join the festivities as downtown Asbury Park launches its first Mardi Gras celebration on Saturday February 6th. There will be a full roster of activities, including free family fun during the day, and masquerade ball to benefit two charities at night. The day kicks off with a Mardi Gras mask decorating project and contest from 1:00 to 5:00. Pick up your free, undecorated mask at Backward Glances, inside the Shoppes at the Arcade, 658 Cookman Avenue. Then visit participating businesses downtown to get free decorations to apply to your mask. Tables with glue will be set up at the Shoppes at the Arcade to design your own special Mardi Gras creation. At 5:30, judging will take place and prizes awarded to adult’s and kids’ winners.
Also in the afternoon, there will be free face painting by Raven, and strolling musicians from the Asbury Park Music Foundation’s “Music Saved My Life” program. Various downtown restaurants will be cooking up Mardi Gras specials.
At 8:00, it’s time for the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball at the House of Independents, 572 Cookman Avenue. The theme for the ball is “New Jersey Meets New Orleans”. All profits from the ball will be donated to the Asbury Park Music Foundation and the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and Assistance Foundation. A costume contest will be held, with the winner will be crowned king or queen of the ball and receive a gift basket with great prizes from local merchants.
Entertainment will be provided by the Funky Dawgz Brass Band and the VooDUDES. The Funky Dawgz have exploded onto the live music scene playing a mix of traditional New Orleans R&B, original music, and today’s top hits with a brass twist. One of the biggest up-and-coming touring acts these high energy horns are bound to get everyone around them dancing all night to that irresistibly funky music! New Jersey’s own VooDUDES have been playing a mix of New Orleans funk, blues, boogie-woogie, honky-tonk, with a pinch of Zydeco, Southern soul and Caribbean party music for 25 years. With these two bands playing, this is going to be quite a party. Admission to the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball is $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Advanced tickets can be purchased at House of Independents.com. Then show your advance ticket for 10% off at Backward Glances, where you can find masks and everything you need for a perfect Mardi Gras costume.
