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Mardi Gras in Alexandria The Mardi Gras au Coeur de la Louisianne (Mardi Gras in the Heart of Central Louisiana) spirit has really taken hold of Central Louisiana since the first parade was held in 1994. Alexandria's Mardi Gras has grown from a total of ten floats and participation of four Mardi Gras Krewes to twenty-two floats and 14 Mardi Gras Krewes. Parade attendance is now estimated at 110,000, and the Saturday morning Children's parade attendance in downtown Alexandria is estimated at 25,000. The Alexandria Mardi Gras Association was begun in 1993 by a consortium of local business leaders, the Alexandria/Pineville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Mardi Gras enthusiasts, the Association has continued its commitment of making Mardi Gras merriment without the hassle of the big city. The 1993 Board of Directors and those instrumental in the creation of the Alexandria Mardi Gras event were Anne Fitzgerald, Mike Tudor, Fred Rosenfeld, Tom Hardin, Mike Hadnot, Bart Schmolke and Ann Johnson. Through AMGA's strategic management, Mardi Gras in the Heart of Louisiana has continued to expand and offer families the pomp and splendor of this Louisiana tradition in the safety of small-time city parades. This year, in addition to the parade there will be a host of events including "A Taste of Mardi Gras", a children's Mardi Gras Parade, and a Post-Parade Party at the Riverfront Convention Center following the Krewe Parade. The Alexandria Mardi Gras Parade is truly a unique event with as many ingredients as a good gumbo. The good times roll downtown and midtown Alexandria as people from all over central Louisiana take part in the revelry. The Mardi Gras Parades come alive with the music of area high school bands and masked riders from AMGA Krewes. This year's parades will cost in excess of $100,000 to stage. More than 85% of this cost is paid for by the parade participants. Collectively the Association consists of over 2,000 local people. Krewes that are members of the Association have an opportunity to take part each year in the Association parade. Every year the Association chooses a person of distinction either from the central Louisiana area or from the state to serve as Grand Marshal of the Sunday Krewe Parade. Previous Grand Marshals have included former Dallas Cowboy kicker, Super Bowl winner Chris Bonial, blues musician Grady Gaines, former Miss USA, Ali Landry, and Natchitoches native and country, western singer, Trini Triggs, CNBC's Sydnie Kohara, Art Ginsburg, Actor Scott Poetty, and Martha Angelo. The 2002 Parades will be held on Saturday, February 9 at 10 am, in downown Alexandria and Sunday, February 10 at 2 pm in midtown Alexandria.
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The Alexandria Mardi
Gras Association | Calendar of Events
| Mardi Gras de
la Louisiane E-mail: chursey797@aol.com For more information on
2002 Mardi Gras in Central Louisiana, |
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