Mardi Gras galore!

A crowd of hundreds of New Orleans ex-pats and native and newbie Ashevilleans took to the streets yesterday in what may have been the most sizable Fat Tuesday celebration ever staged here.

Click on the image above to view a slideshow by Jason Sandford

Organized by the Mystic Mountain Krewe, the parade and after-party at Pritchard Park were replete with garishly dressed revelers, Mardi Gras beads and performances by the Firecracker Jazz Band and the Unifire dance group. The weather was unusually warm for early February, and the energy in the streets was palpable.

Didn’t make it to the party? Or just want to have another look? Either way, Xpress was there to record the action. Click on the window at right to view an audio slideshow by Multimedia Editor
Jason Sandford.

— Jon Elliston, managing editor

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About Jon Elliston

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5 thoughts on “Mardi Gras galore!”

Edgy Mama

February 7, 2008 at 1:04 am

Cool! Almost as good as being there.
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Ralph Roberts

February 7, 2008 at 1:25 am

NICE slide show! Is Jason already at work?

and where’s mah beads?
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Ralph Roberts

February 7, 2008 at 1:26 am

ummm… to answer my own question by reading the caption above… yep… he is. 😉
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fmerenda

February 7, 2008 at 4:02 pm

NICE work Jason!
I wish so much I could have made this. 🙁
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Nancy Nesbitt

February 7, 2008 at 6:18 pm

Great photos!

But for goodness sakes, please keep this on the DL!

If word gets out that Mardi Gras is remotely centered around Christianity you may get nasty letters to the editor!
The Mardi Gras celebration begins on Epiphany and ends on “Fat Tuesday.” or Shrove Tuesday, the day of atonement for sins.

Just saying!
Tongue firmly planted in cheek!
:-Þ
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