Free festival admission for all ages; beverage proceeds benefit Heroes in Blue; grand marshal Bakari Sellers; King Bentz Kirby and Queen Kassy Alia
COLUMBIA, S.C. (January 16, 2018) – The Krewe de Columbi-Ya-Ya, in collaboration with Soda City and City Roots, will host the Mardi Gras Columbia Festival on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at City Roots Farm. A slew of Mardi Gras themed events will be held to celebrate New Orleans culture and traditions in Columbia, S.C., including an all-day music festival, a 5k run and a neighborhood Mardi Gras parade featuring grand marshal Bakari Sellers. After the morning run and parade, the Mardi Gras Columbia 2018 Festival will feature 17 live bands at City Roots Farm from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Festival admission is free for all ages, and proceeds from beer and wine sales will benefit the local nonprofit, Heroes in Blue. Find details on the Mardi Gras Columbia festival website at http://www.mardigrascolumbia.com/.
9:00 a.m.: The Annual Lagniappe 5k Run
To start the day’s festivities, runners, walkers, their fans, their dogs and their costumes will be welcomed for registration at 8:00 a.m. for the Lagniappe 5K run, which begins at 9:00 a.m. by the soccer fields near Owens Field airport and follows a course through the Rosewood neighborhood. Race registration is $30 and includes a race participant t-shirt. For an additional $5, your dog can join in on the fun! Costumes are encouraged, and walkers are too! The course is USATF certified and qualifies as an official Columbia Running Club Tour De Columbia event. Pre-race packet pick up will be held Friday, February 9 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at River Rat Brewery. Find race info here: http://www.mardigrascolumbia.com/the-5k.
Text Box: Figure 1: Mardi Gras Parade Route11:00 a.m.: The Legendary Mardi Gras Columbia Parade
The community is also invited to partake in the annual Mardi Gras Parade at 11 a.m., following the Lagniappe 5K. Lineup begins at 10 a.m. and the shenanigans roll at 11 a.m. Be a part of the parade by sending an email of interest and intent to mardigrascolumbia@gmail.com, or just swing by as a spectator for all the music, costumes, and of course, bead-throwing!
2018 Mardi Gras Columbia Parade, with King Bentz Kirby, Queen Kassy Alia and Grand Marshal Bakari Sellers
Featured parade participants will be Krewe de Columbi-Ya-Ya members, other Krewes, the Soda City Brass Band, and the new reigning King and Queen, acclaimed musician Bentz Kirby and Heroes in Blue founder Kassy Alia. National political correspondent and former S.C. House Rep. Bakari Sellers will serve as grand marshal of the parade. Line-up will commence at 10 a.m. and floats will roll at 11 a.m.
12:00 p.m.: The 8th Annual Mardi Gras Columbia Festival
Kick-off for the free Mardi Gras Columbia Festival 2018 is set for 12 p.m. and will benefit Heroes in Blue. A full schedule of local and regional bands will be performing on four different stages for maximum entertainment and visibility, including but not limited to the following: Those Lavender Whales, EZ Shakes, Alarm Drum, Black Iron Gathering, Big Sky Revival, Sand Castles, Soda City Brass Band, Plowboys, George Fetner and The Strays, Flat Out Strangers, The Dubber, Pharaohs in Space, Devils in Disguise, Whisky Tango Revue, Buckdancer, Boomtown Waifs, The Captain Midnight Band.
The party will continue til dark with beverages sponsored by Abita Brewing Company and River Rat Brewery, as well as several local food vendors.
For those looking to eat, drink, mask, and merry-make before February 10, join the Krewe de Columbi-Ya-Ya at an undisclosed, top-secret location for The Blue Ball! Visit the public Facebook event for details. Come one...come y’all...and Laissez les bons temps rouler (Let the good times roll)!
The Blue Ball: The Blue Ball Facebook Event
Lagniappe 5K: Lagniappe 5K Facebook Event
Mardi Gras Columbia 2018: Mardi Gras Columbia Facebook Event
About Krewe de Columbi-Ya-Ya
Krewe de Columbi-Ya-Ya is Columbia’s first Mardi Gras crazed-Krewe, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to charitable works and letting the good times roll. Each Krewe member participates in the organization of the Lagniappe 5K, the Mardi Gras Parade, and the Mardi Gras Festival. Enjoying the privilege of a private Krewe space (with top notch food and drink) at the festival is just an added bonus. Other Krewe events throughout the year consist of oyster roasts, happy hours, barbecues, bacchanals, other local parades, and the annual coronation of the King and Queen of the Krewe de Columbia-Ya-Ya, held near Twelfth Night.
Web: www.mardigrascolumbia.com
Instagram: @MardiGrasColumbia
Krewe Facebook: www.facebook.com/KrewedeColumbiYaYa
Mardi Gras Facebook: www.facebook.com/mardigrascolumbia
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