Celebrate Mardi Gras in San Diego!

Mid-winter each year, before the first green of spring, comes the festive and colorful season of Carnival or Mardi Gras. Though the actual season begins weeks earlier, the big celebration commonly referred to as Mardi Gras is a pre-Lenten gala held the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Known as Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, the reference is to the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual fasting and penitential season of Lent. While Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro is the world’s largest celebration, New Orleans holds that record in the United States. Just the mention of Mardi Gras conjures up images of gluttony, debauchery and drunken, bead-wearing revelers dancing through the streets. This year’s Mardi Gras is February 21^st and there will be celebrations all over the country with the traditional Jazz and Zydeco (French & Indian) music, feasts, parades, parties, beads and lots and lots of alcohol.

Join San Diego for one of the best Mardi Gras celebrations, other than the obvious New Orleans.

Join everyone in the Gaslamp on Fat Tuesday, February 21, 2012 from 6pm to midnight for a New Orleans-style celebration of Mardi Gras that includes bands, street performers, and two incredible masquerade parades at 7:30pm and 10pm that are going to make this the top place to celebrate in California. Enjoy tasty treats, cold beverages and beads, beads, beads! This event goes on rain or shine. This year, Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp is going bigger and better, with not three, but four stages and elaborately themed areas, with a different look and edge to satisfy your every desire. Electrifying video projections and lighting elements will bring the historic buildings of the Gaslamp to life. Expect exciting and enticing performances with some of the biggest names in the DJ world, live bands, acrobatics and dance troupes and more. This is Fat Tuesday like you’ve never seen it before. All attendees must be 21 years of age or older to enter. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of, but they sell out quick so get them today! Visit www.gaslamp.org for more event information. Click here to purchase tickets.

The GSDBA Charitable Foundation and the Hillcrest Business Association are pleased to announce the 11th Annual Hillcrest Mardi Gras Street Party to be held on February 21, 2012 from 6pm-11pm. The Hillcrest Mardi Gras Street Party promises to be another fun-filled evening featuring food, live entertainment and special guest performers, costumes and of course, beads! Food and other drink will be available for purchase from participating vendors and venues. Additionally, full liquor will also be served during the event. An array of other surprises, plenty of beads, and various other party favors will also be part of the festive evening. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 for the day of and $50 in advance and $75 for the day of for a VIP Pass. Tickets are available at the following Hillcrest area locations: Baja Betty’s at 1421 University Avenue; Urban Mo’s at 308 University Avenue; and Obelisk Bookstore at 1029 University Avenue. Click here for more information.

Save time and money this Mardi Gras, take the MTS Trolley!