Long Beach’s annual Mardi Gras celebration is set to return to Shoreline Village on Saturday, Feb. 10.
Mardi Gras — otherwise known as Fat Tuesday — is a popular holiday that’s celebrated across the world, with its roots in religion. Historically, the event is held the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, a six-week period of fasting leading up to Easter.
But Mardi Gras has evolved over the centuries, and in some places has become a weeklong cultural festival featuring highly decorated floats, “King Cake,” mask-wearing and more.
The holiday is now highly associated with New Orleans — where revelers go all out to celebrate the tradition every year.
Long Beach’s free Mardi Gras parade and festival, meanwhile, will take place at Shoreline Village from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
The parade will begin at Famous Dave’s Restaurants, near 300 Pine Ave., at 2:30 p.m. — and will feature the Louisiana Culture Street Steppers, among other entries.
First District Councilmember Mary Zendejas will serve as this year’s Mardi Gras queen, the press release said, with her council staffers acting as Zendejas’ court.
“Mardi Gras is about community, inclusion and togetherness, which are all necessary for a city to thrive,” Zendejas said in the news release. “It’s fun to celebrate different cultures that have become American, and Mardi Gras is one of those iconic events.”
Costumes are encouraged for both the parade and festival, which will feature live entertainment, food, face painting, bead throwing and more traditional Mardi Gras festivities.
For more information about Long Beach’s Mardi Gras celebration, visit tinyurl.com/MardiGrasShoreline.
