CarniVail Brings Mardi Gras To the Snow

Who says that you have to go to New Orleans to enjoy the Mardi Gras? The Mardi Gras can be celebrated anywhere, and that is exactly the attitude Vail had when they decided to host their own Carnivail. Each year, Vail Village opens Bridge Street (their version of Bourbon Street) to some good old fashioned Cajun/Creole cooking, and Mardi Gras type entertainment. It has free entertainment (Fat Tuesday Parade, music), costumes, beads, and plenty of boiled crawfish. This year the celebration will begin on Sunday, February 14th (Valentines Day) and continue through Tuesday the 16th (a.k.a. Fat Tuesday).

For those who like to travel incognito, the masquerade bar crawl allows party goers the chance to party Las Vegas style, meaning, what happens in Carnivail while wearing a mask, stays in Carnivail! The recommended attire is anything purple, green, or gold, and bonus shouts go out to all those that can incorporate all three. The Taste of New Orleans is the local restaurants portion of the event. All throughout Vail Village you will find various food specials, featuring the exotic tastes of authentic Cajun/Creole cooking. Last year, part of the proceeds to this event went to Katrina victims, helping families to recoup their lives.

The last day of the celebration, Tuesday, February 16th, will kick off later in the afternoon with their annual crowning of the King and Queen. This is usually followed by the King Cake Eating Contest, and concluded with the quintessential Fat Tuesday Parade. A $1,000 prize will go to the best parade float, which ensures some pretty steep competition each year from the participants. A free concert will proceed through the remaining evening hours, along with free give-aways, plenty of alcohol spirits, and more boiled crawfish than you could shovel into a 1970's Cadillac.

The celebration and atmosphere is entirely family friendly, so come one, come all, and enjoy this Carnivail!