This year the Asheville Mardi Gras’ Parade and Ball are on Sunday, March 2nd rain or shine. The parade will push off from Wall Street at 3 p.m. The Queen’s Ball will follow immediately at Pack’s Tavern’s Century Room. The theme this year is “Where The Wild Things Are”. Both events are family friendly and free to the public.
Once again, Asheville Mardi Gras invites all of WNC to come enjoy by either marching with your krewe in the parade or enjoying the view from the sidelines where you’ll gather this year’s collectable throws. The parade will keep the same route as last year and can be found on ashevillemardigras.org.
The parade and queen’s ball is their gift to the city. This year’s parade will be led by Queen Michella Bella Roche and King Tony Rogers who will be perched atop their elaborate throne. You can also expect to see krewe’s full of live music performers, dancers, jugglers, wild costumes and fabulous floats. The Queen’s Ball will begin at Pack’s Tavern following the parade. Entertainment includes the Eternity Dance Troupe and Asheville’s very own New Orleans 2nd line style brass band, the Empire Strikes Brass beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Other Mardi Gras events include a very special LaZoom Comedy Tour on February, 28th, face painting at ZaPow the day of the parade from 1-3 and Amazing Pubcycle tours during the parade.
Asheville Mardi Gras is an all-volunteer community based arts and culture group. Their purpose is to strengthen Western North Carolina community connections through promoting creativity, frivolity and celebration, based on the traditions of Mardi Gras but with an Asheville twist.