BASTROP, Texas — Bastrop is letting the good times roll this weekend with their second annual Mardi Gras festival.
The festival is inspired by how the Evangeline Parish does it in Louisiana by celebrating culture and community. City leaders got the idea two years ago after traveling to Evangeline Parish and asking how they could bring Mardi Gras to Bastrop.
Mayor Pro Tem John Kirkland said the community’s tourism board offered to travel back to Bastrop to teach them the vibrant traditions of how they celebrate the cultural holiday.
“Went to three different cities for three different Mardi Gras events to visit them … I came home with 25 pounds of beads that I’m now gonna throw in our Mardi Gras parade that we’re having here,” Kirkland laughed. “It was just someone’s idea and we said, ‘Hey, that sounds like fun. Let’s try that out’ and it was wildly successful.”
According to Kirkland, the city and businesses brought in around $858,000 in retail, hotel, food, and gas costs last year.
“Some of the businesses on Main Street last year reported hitting an all-time sales record on that day, and we had about 10,000 people that showed up,” Kirkland said.
This year, the Cajun Mardi Gras Ball will kick off Bastrop’s two-day celebration on Friday with Cajun-flavored hors d’oeuvres and live musical performances at the Bastrop Convention Hall. On Saturday, Bastrop is set to have a Mardi Gras parade at 10 a.m. with floats and beads to give away, and free king cake.
“At noon we will have the judging of a gumbo cook-off and we have about a dozen teams, both from Louisiana that have come all the way here for the contest. Then all afternoon, through the evening, we will have other activities including a chicken chase for the kids, and some activities at the library,” Kirkland said.
They will also have live Cajun music along with Cajun and Creole food for people to try.
Tickets to the Mardi Gras Ball are $75 for individual tickets, $150 for couples, and $600 for a reserved table for eight. Tickets will be available for purchase on their website.
The festivities and music on Saturday are open and free for everyone to enjoy.