Mardi Gras Celebrations in NWA

Mardis Gras 2Krewe of Olympia float w/ Rose Diaz in Fayetteville in 2013.

Northwest Arkansas has had no shortage of Mardi Gras events in past years. Again this year, revelers and organizers of these many events will come together for the climax of a year of planning, and months of preparation. This year, don’t miss the parades, music, and all around fun, and sometimes demented merrymaking.

Fayetteville

The Demented Krewe of Dickson and The Committee for Mardi Gras will kick off the Mardi Gras season in Fayetteville at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1, with the annual Parade of Fools. The parade will feature floats, walking krewes, the 2013 king and queen and lots of beads and throws for those along the parade route. The family-friendly parade will begin at the Fayetteville Square, travel Block Avenue to Dickson Street and end at the corner of Dickson Street and West Avenue. Anyone who would like to participate in the parade can find information at fayettevillemardigras.com.

The Mardi Gras celebration continues on Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras), March 4 with an adults only event that will begin at 8 p.m. on Dickson Street with walking krewes and musicians parading the various Dickson Street clubs.

Then, on March 4, the Demented Krewe will hold their second line pub crawl around 8:30 p.m.

Festivities will begin about 7 p.m. The Crowning of the Royalty of the Demented Krewe of Dickson will be held around 8 p.m. The Krewes then parade with the Billy Zydeco Band through sponsoring clubs on Dickson St. Participation in the second line parade is open to all adults. Feeling a little Demented of late? Come join the fun!!

Eureka Springs

Mardi Gras in Eureka Springs has a new ball to get all aglow over! The new Black Light Ball on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Voulez Vous Lounge is kicking off the Mardi Gras season with a big bang to support the Main Street Eureka Springs ESDN program.

Dress in your best white outfit to glow in the dark or come prepared to get painted with glow paint during this fantastic fundraiser while you dance to Free Verse; a Little Rock band that is climbing up the ReverbNation.com charts. The Voulez Vous Lounge will be glittering in black light and studded with Glow Delight Dancers throughout the evening. The ball follows the Light and Sound parade that flows down the heart of downtown on Spring Street.

The Black Light Ball Doors Open at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, and includes Live Music from Free Verse, Black Light Paint, and a glow kit at the Voulez Vous Lounge, 63A Spring Street, below the New Orleans Hotel in Eureka Springs. Ball Tickets $20 per person, to purchase tickets click www.reserveeureka.com or call The Fine Art of Romance: 479-636-6264.

That same night the Light and Sound Night Parade will begin at 6 p.m. following the usual parade route from the Carnegie Public Library, down Spring Street to the Court House on Main Street. After the parade downtown there will be Second Line Dancing at 7 p.m.

The Hookers and Jokers Ball takes place on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. at the Best Western Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center at 205 W. Van Buren. There’ll be music, a mini parade, buffet with heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. This year’s theme is “Eureka Circus” with prizes awarded for best costume.

The Coronation Masquerade Ball on Friday, Feb. 28, is the formal event at the Crescent Hotel at 75 Prospect, featuring a champagne buffet dinner and live music. The Crystal Dining room will be full of tables decorated in Mardi Gras style, the king and queen along with their royal court will promenade around the ballroom and guests will enjoy champagne and a buffet dinner. Reservations are required and may be made by calling 479-981-9551.

The second Mardi Gras parade, led by the Krewe of Krazo, will roll downtown on Saturday, March 1, at 2 p.m. The 2014 Theme is “Eureka Circus.” That night, the Beaux Arts Masquerade Ball will be hosted by the Basin Park Hotel with cash bar at 7 p.m. and dancing with live music by locally famous party band Ultra Suede at 8 p.m. Tickets may be purchased by calling 479-253-9417.

The next morning on Sunday, March 2, those who are up for it after all the parties will hit the New Orleans-style Jazz Brunch at the Crescent Hotel at 11:30 a.m., featuring live music entertainment. Reservations are required and may be made by calling 479-253-9652.

On Fat Tuesday, March 4, the final event is the Saint ‘Lizbeth King Cake Ball and dinner. Dinner & music begins at 6 p.m. at the St. Elizabeth Parish Center at 232 Passion Play Road. For more information call 479-253-2222.

For more information on all events, visit krazo.ureeka.org