Mardi Gras comes early to Perry

It’s not official elsewhere until Feb. 9, but the Perry Arts Center Committee and the Perry Downtown Merchants are putting on a Mardi Gras celebration beginning 6 p.m. Friday in downtown Perry.

This next in the series of First Friday events will feature local artists and artisans, live music, a MardiGrowl parade, food and drink from local restaurants, and a second line parade.

Marty Myers, spokesperson for the Perry Arts Center Committee, which plans events centered around local artists and artisans, said downtown merchants will stay open late Friday to accommodate the crowd.

Artisans and artists will set up either on the sidewalks or on the streets, he said.

“Some merchants are friends with the artists who set up right outside their door,” Myers said. “It’s not a fundraiser; whatever the artists sell they keep. The event is strictly for having fun.”

Merchants and shops will get exposure to new customers, he added.

“We have a lot of gifted local artists,” he said, “such as painters, pottery artists, woodworkers and metalworkers.”

The music setup at the Swanson House and Dr. Smith’s office will feature Mike Robinson and Friends and Megan Brent, the chef at The Perfect Pear.

“She has a wonderful, Janis Joplin-like voice,” Myers said. “She’ll sing then go back and cook some then come out and sing.”

“Marty’s just getting excited,” said Brent, laughing. “My band’s not going to be there so I’m not going to be singing, but he’s right in that I’ll definitely be cooking that night.”

The Mardi Gras theme will be accentuated by sales of the famous Hurricane drink of Pat O’Brien’s in its signature plastic glass, beignets in the style of the equally famous Café du Monde, and red beans and rice soup served in cups.

“The beignets will give an authentic flavor of Mardi Gras and will go well with the Hurricane,” said Myers.

Beads, masks and hats will be available to add flavor to the festivities.

Then there is the MardiGrowl. Canines are going to be part of the action, Myers said.

“I know of one person who’s going to be disguised as ‘Larry the Cable Guy’ and his dog dressed up as a computer repairman,” Myers said. Prizes will be gas cards courtesy of Davis Oil Co., he added.

The Second Line parade will start around 7:30 p.m., he said.

“It’s a New Orleans tradition. We’ll have some brass instruments starting, say, with ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ and people just follow along in the streets,” Myers said. “We’ll start at Carroll, go to the Swanson and return.”

Merchants will stay open until 9 p.m., he said, then join the festivities. Food vendors will stay open later.

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