Local Mardi Gras revelers let the good times roll
By Ida Brown
Senior Staff Writer
February 15th, 2009
While candy, cards and roses were the most popular treasures for Saturday's observance of Valentine's Day, colorful masks and beads were also highly valued by those attending Mardi Gras festivities at Singing Brakeman Park.
Overcast skies and increasing cool temperatures didn't overshadow the enthusiasm of those who turned out for the annual Meridian Mardi Gras, which included loads of Cajun music, crawfish boils, band battles and other contests, gumbo cookoffs and yes, tossing of beads during a parade on Front Street.
"The weather has been a problem, but people still come out," said Brandon Pratt, president of the Meridian Downtown Association, sponsor of the event.
Even pouring rain on Friday's first night of the two-day celebration didn't quell the "laissez les bons temps rouler" spirit.
"Everything still went on as planned we had the crawfish boil and shrimp," said Pratt, who estimated about 125 people in attendance.
"They were lined up to get crawfish in the rain; we moved under the overpass and that provided some relief ... There was a man dancing with his daughter in the rain; people just love getting out and celebrating."
In addition to food, the evening also included a Battle of the Bands Competition. Performances included all types of music and the winners was the group Big Swig, which walked away with a $300 cash prize.
On Saturday morning, the park was filled with the aroma of onion, celery, peppers, spices, crawfish, shrimp, sausage and other ingredients as several cooking teams gathered to compete and create the rich Louisiana-revered concoction known as gumbo.
"This is what we look forward to; we love it and talk about it all year with other teams that have competed," said Scott Cash, who along with Johnny Robbins, Bubba Banks, Mack Rigdon and team mascot Ellie Mae has participated in the competition for several years. Their team, known as Krewe de Mack Mack won first place from 2005-2007 and second place in 2008.
"Of course we love the competition, but we also enjoy just hanging out with the other teams and socializing," Cash said.
Krewe of T's Mike Tucker and Teresa Boudreaux agreed. First-timers in the competition, the duo who bragged that they had a "better gumbo" recipe found themselves enjoying the camaraderie as much as competing.
"It's very family-oriented, which is a good plus," said Boudreaux, who hails from Mobile, Ala.
Winners of the competition were Krewe de Mercridi Nuit, first place; Krewe de Mack Mack, second; and Bayou Babes, third place.
Around noon, the park went to the dogs literally as more than 150 canines participated in the popular Krewe of Barkus Pet Parade. Dogs of all sizes and pedigree were among those who strutted down the parade path decked in Mardi Gras costumes. Some donned masks and colorful outfits and gear one even had its coat colored purple, green and yellow.
"We wanted to get out and take in the sights and the smells and so did our dogs," said Eleanor Umphlett, who said she may enter her dogs in next year's pet parade.
Winners of the parade were Moose, a Great Dane who was dubbed Krewe of Barkus King, and Vallie Brooke, who was crowned Krewe of Barkus Queen.
For some, the day was an opportunity to enjoy favorites such as Polish sausages, nachos with cheese and jalapenos, funnel cakes and the ever-popular New Orleans fare, bienets.
"It's good, it's good," said Danesia Worsham, who was enjoying a corndog while walking through the park.
Worsham, who is just weeks from delivering her baby, said she came to the Mardi Gras celebration because she would not be able to attend the one in Mobile this year.
"It's too close to my due date," she said as she and her boyfriend, Cedric Simmons, walked to their food stop.
Other highlights of the day included a Hip Hop Dance Contest of which the eight-member praise/hip-hop dance group Dancing Dazzlers won; a Krewe of Trucks Parade and a Krewe of Kruise Parade.
The local Mardi Gras celebration culminated with an evening of entertainment featuring Rosie Ladet & The Zydeco Playboys.
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