Get your beads ready: The 15th annual Mardi Gras parade will hit downtown Lawrence next week.
The event will be led by the Lawrence Mardi Gras Band, according to a news release from event sponsors.
The musicians come together each year to celebrate Mardi Gras “in the traditional fashion: a funky parade with music, beads, glitter, and more,” according to their website, lawrencemardigras.org.
They’re rehearsing weekly, and they’ll meet around 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 in front of Lucia, 1016 Massachusetts St. in downtown Lawrence.
“We march/stumble down Mass street stopping to play on corners, in restaurants, and anywhere else that won’t kick us out immediately,” according to the band’s website. The sidewalk parade “ends at Free State Brewery with more music and, of course, some beer.”
The parade is free and intended for all ages. Find out more on the Facebook event page.
Mardi Gras traditionally signifies the end of carnival season, and Lucia shared two other big events planned leading up to Fat Tuesday.
Festivities kick off Friday, Feb. 17 with Carnaval Latino en Lawrence, “a party headlined by 13 piece salsa orchestra Mundo Nouvo, and Haitian kompa group, Zikap Music,” according to the release.
“Rotating DJs will play music from other parts of the Caribbean and Brazil throughout the night.” Doors open at 7 p.m. and the music starts at 8 p.m. Friday. Find more information and see how to get tickets, which are $10, on the Facebook event page.
Then, “Carnaval and Mardi Gras collide” on Saturday, Feb. 18.
Balacobaco do Brasil, a Brazilian band, will take the stage at 6 p.m. with upbeat dance music including samba, forró, xote, baião, frevo, and more, followed at 9 p.m. by nine-member ensemble SUNU’s mix of funk, jazz, Afrobeat, New Orleans street beats and West African dance drumming, according to the release. That event is $10 to attend, and more information is available via the Facebook event page.
The Friday and Saturday events, both at Lucia, are for those ages 18 and up, according to the release. Laissez les bons temps rouler.
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