This weekend the good times will roll throughout Meridian as different organizations gear up to celebrate Mardi Gras before Ash Wednesday arrives next week bringing the first day of Lent.
Those looking to jumpstart the celebration can kick off Friday night with the Third Annual Masquerade at Merrehope, which is becoming Meridian’s Mardi Gras pre-parade party. Decorators have spent the last couple of weeks dressing up the historic 20-room mansion in Mardi Gras bling to give it a snazzy and jazzy feel.
The fun will kick off at 6 p.m Friday and will continue until 8:30 p.m. with live musicians, including pianist Robert Lee Evans and jazz saxophonist Jessica Manning, said BJ Hatten, one of the organizers. The evening will feature other guest performers, including Madam Adeline, who will be reading guests fortunes, and caricature artist Byron Vaughns.
New Orleans style Mardi Gras party fare and hors d’oeuvres will be served at this BYOB event, and some lucky folks will win door prizes and raffles.
Attendees are encouraged to dress all out in carnival or masquerade attire or just throw some Mardi Gras beads around their neck and come as they are, Hatten said. They can grab more bling at the door.
Tickets to Masquerade at Merrehope, located at 905 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, are $20 at the door and $10 for students. Tickets can also be purchased this week by calling Merrehope at 601-483-8439.
On Saturday, the fun kicks up a notch in the Queen City as Meridian Mardi Gras gets underway downtown at noon, continuing until 5 p.m. Presented by Bud Light and Mitchell Distributing in conjunction with the Arts & Community Events Society, the afternoon is sure to be an exciting time for the whole family. The event is free and open to the public.
Red & The Revelers will get the party started with live music beginning at noon on the stage near the city hall lawn.
At 1:45 p.m., the annual Krewe de Barkus costume contest and parade, sponsored by Animal Medical Supply and Poplar Springs Animal Hospital, is slated to begin, featuring furry friends all dressed up in their Mardi Gras finest. The cost to enter a dog in the costume cost is $10 with proceeds to benefit the Lauderdale County Animal Shelter and Roadside Rescue. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.
Entry forms and fee may be turned in at Poplar Springs Animal Hospital or Animal Medical Supply prior to the event or at their table before the contest begins. The Krewe of Barkus parade is slated to begin immediately following the costume contest at 2 p.m.
Afterwards, hundreds of parade goers will gather on the city hall lawn and line the streets of downtown for the chance to grab fists full of colorful beads and other thrown freebies during the Krewe of Midas Parade, which is set to begin at 3 p.m.
Numerous food vendors, games and children’s activities will be scattered around the city hall lawn for spectators to enjoy with Black Sheep set to take the stage at 4 p.m. to close out the day’s fun.
Later on Saturday night, Brickhaus Brewtique will host a Meridian Mardi Gras Afterparty featuring musician Daniel Houze from 8-11 p.m. at the downtown business, located at 2206 Front Street.