Daniella FusariWhen Mardi Gras comes to mind people think bright colored dancers, floats, jazz bands and the “Big Easy,” also known as New Orleans.
There is no doubt that New Orleans is the home to that age old celebration but on this side of the Gulf of Mexico it is Universal Studios in Orlando that brings it a little closer to home.
The 12th Annual Mardi Gras celebration kicked off at Universal Studios on Saturday, Feb. 2 and will run for twelve consecutive weeks until Apr. 19.
The celebrations include an area called the “French Quarter.” The French Quarter at Universal Studios is definitely a far cry from the one in New Orleans, but the sights, smells and sounds are still the same. Fortune telling, Cajun cooking and voodoo juice are the big highlights. Not to mention actual bands from New Orleans which brings the eclectic sound only heard in New Orleans down to Florida.
After Huricane Katrina in 2005 which devastated New Orleans, Universal has teamed up with the Tipitina Foundation and Muscicians for Disaster Relief to bring acts down from New Orleans. Orginally, it was to help out the Katrina victims, but it ended up being a great hit when they played for the pre show before the parade said Jim Timon, senior vice president of entertainment.
After musicians play for a while and people get a little voodoo juice and some good old Cajun cookin it is time for the fun to begin. All ages are guaranteed to have a great time.
The parade begins at 8 p.m. and goes throughout the park. In order to stay true with the celebrations in New Orleans, the parade organizers deal directly with Kearns Studios which is in charge of the actual Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
The over one million beads that they order every year is also directly from New Orleans and are made by the same company which make the beads for the actual Mardi Gras.
The parade consists of 13 floats all decorated to the theme of “Discover Utopia.” Atlantis, El Dorado and Eden are just a few of the floats. There are of course dancers and multiple stilt men and women.
When the parade finally ends, the show begins. Every night there is a major concert to complement the celebrations. Opening night began with Bret Michaels from VHI’s hit show, “Rock of Love with Bret Michaels.” The Go Go’s, Sara Evans, Gretchen Wilson, Frankie Valli ‘ the Four Seasons, and LL Cool J are just a few on the lineup.
Special tickets sold after 5 p.m. for the Mardi Gras celebration are sold for $46.95. the festivities begin at 6 p.m The rides and some attractions close at 8 p.m. but the park itself will stay open. Check out http://www.universalorlando.com/mardigras/ for all the band listing and other events. MARDI GRAS 2008 CONCERT SERIES
February Feb. 9 – Go-Go’s? Feb. 16 – Sara Evans? Feb. 23 – Third Eye Blind
March? ? Mar. 1 – Gretchen Wilson ? Mar. 8 – Smokey Robinson? Mar. 15 – Frankie Valli ‘ The Four Seasons ? Mar. 22 – Kool ‘ The Gang ? Mar. 29 – Heart
April? ? Apr. 5 – TBA? Apr. 12 – LL Cool J ? Apr. 19 – TBA
MARDI GRAS 2008 BAND LINE-UP
February? Feb. 9 – Lil Malcolm and the House Rockers? Feb. 16 – The Daddy Mack Blues Band Feb. 23 – Big Red ‘ the Zydeco Playmakers
March Mar. 1 – Chris Klein and the Boulevards? Mar. 8 – Bryan Lee and The Blues Power Band Mar. 15 – Rockin Jake ? Mar. 22 – Soul Project Mar. 29 – The Kevin O’Day Band
April Apr. 5 – Jumpin Johnny Sansone? Apr. 12 – Mem Shannon and the Membership? Apr. 19 – Lil Brian and the Zydeco Travelers
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