A local taste of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras 2018 was held with plenty of fun and dancing for the big crowd of revelers at the St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center on Cumberland Street Saturday Night. King Jace and Mardi Gras’ Queen and her Court officiated the 24th annual local celebration with the help of entertainment by Jeff Gamache & Runaway Train, playing country and popular music; and The Squeezebox Stompers, the evening’s Zydeco, blues, soul and Cajun band.
Food was provided by Russell Morin Catering and included French Canadian meat pie and Jambalaya rice.
Bob Billington of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council played the part of King Jace XXIV, while the Queen of Mardi Gras was Joyce LaPerle of Oakland Grove Healthcare. LaPerle’s princesses were Kimberly Blais of the Woonsocket Education Department and Tammy Irwin of Timeless Antiques & Collectibles on Main Street. Helpers for the court were Ellen Cloutier and Amanda Girard.
As is always part of the fun, costumes and masks hid the identities of some of the participants for a time, and there were surprise appearances here and there including a stop-in by U.S. Rep. David Cillicine.
Local entertainer Jeff Gamache said he always looks forward to a performance at Mardi Gras: “It’s a great crowd and its the best dance crowd you will have all year.”
King Jace also deemed the night a great event for everyone showing up.
“It’s beautiful. We come every year and the people running this event are just sweet, so sweet people, and it was an honor to do this for them,” Billington said.