Mardi Gras 2024
29th Mardi Gras
Saturday, February 10th, 2024
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
29th Mardi Gras
Saturday, February 10th, 2024
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
(Doors open at 5 pm, Dinner served from 6-8 pm, Cash Bar)
St. Ann Arts & Cultural Center
84 Cumberland Street, Woonsocket, RI
Live music by
The Squeezebox Stompers
(Zydeco, Blues & Soul, Cajun Waltzes)
FULL BUFFET
with Cajun, Creole, and French Canadian food
The Hall ... awaiting Mardi Gras revelers
St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center (available for rentals)
The 2023 Court at the Ball
Pictured (L-R) Princess Cynthia Henderson, King Jace XXVIIIth Adam Brunetti, Queen Tabitha Westerhuis, Princess Tonya Sawtelle
The Full Court with their chosen Princes
MARDI GRAS QUEEN'S CORONATION
Sunday, February 4, 2024, 5 pm
at the Italian Workingmen's Club
947 Diamond Hill Road, Woonsocket, RI
2023 Mardi Gras Court (left to right)
2nd Princess Geralding Barclay-King, Queen Tabitha Westerhuis,
1st Princess Cynthia Henderson, and 3rd Princess Tonya Sawtell
King Jace contest
sponsored by Dave Richards of WOON
Radio
Previous Kings & Queens
(click on links to see Mardi Gras page from that year)
1954 •
Pauline (Nadeau) Miller
1955 •
Maureen (Mazzarella) Kennedy
1956 •
Beverly (DiCesare) Russell*
1957 •
Pauline (Gagnon) Riendeau
1958 •
Rita (Laliberte) Nadeau
1959 •
Claire (Paul) Lafrance
1988 •
Michelle (Lefort) Wheeler
Owen Bebeau
•1995 •
Gloria Jean Roy
Roger Nault
• 1996 •
Paula Rezendes
Al Auclair
• 1997 •
Roxanne Menard
Leo Fontaine
• 1998 •
Dianna Glassey
Roger Jalette
• 1999 •
Donna Gallant
Ken Bianchi
• 2000 •
Nancy (Melvin) Beauregard
Noel Pincince
• 2001 •
Suzanne Beaulieu
Dave Richards
• 2002 •
Lorraine Jacob
Roger Petit
• 2003 •
Stacey (McCutcheon) Fitzsimmons
Roger Bouchard
• 2004 •
Roberta Baillargeon
Tom Ward
• 2005 •
Joyce LaPerle
Brian Blais
• 2006 •
Lorraine Guilbault
Marcel Desroches
• 2007 •
Nancy Phillips
• 2008 •
• 2009 •
• 2010 •
• 2011 •
• 2012 •
• 2013 •
Bob Phillips
• 2014 •
Sheylon Lawson
Paul Shatraw
• 2015 •
Tracey Parenteau
Edward Hunt
• 2016 •
Tammy Lamberto Roy
Joe Nadeau
• 2017 •
Nicole Riendeau
Bob Billington
• 2018 •
Joyce LaPerle
Garrett Mancieri
• 2019 •
Ann Jalette
Dominique Doiron
• 2020 •
Lori Paul Thuot
Dan Gendron
• 2022 •
Desiree Archambault
Adam Brunetti
• 2023 •
Tabitha Westerhuis
2023 Donors
(click on logo or link to visit our sponsors' websites)
Athena's Home Novelties
640 Winter Street | Woonsocket, RI
Sue Beaulieu
Mardi Gras Queen, 2001
North Smithfield, RI
Irene Blais
Mardi Gras Queen, 2009
Woonsocket, RI
175 Main Street | Pawtucket, RI
John Boucher Real Estate Property Management, Inc.
600 Cass Avenue | Woonsocket, RI
with locations in Rhode Island (South Kingstown, West Warwick),
Massachusetts (Braintree, Hyannis, South Attleboro, Swansea)
68 Cumberland Street | Suite 202 | Woonsocket, RI | (401) 765-8880
Cercle Laurier
165 East School Street | Woonsocket, RI
Sharon Charette
North Smithfield, RI
490 Clinton Street | Woonsocket, RI | (401) 769-6622
Club Lafayette
289 Aylsworth Avenue | Woonsocket, RI
Paul and Jeannette Collette
Prudence Island, RI
Ann M. Fay
Canton, MA
Marlene Gagnon
North Smithfield, RI
1402 Victory Highway | North Smithfield, RI | 401-769-2220
285 Main Street | Woonsocket, RI | 401-488-4182
Clara Holding
"Life's Little Extras"
Narragansett, RI
389 Old River Road, Manville, RI
Ann Jalette
2019 Mardi Gras Queen
Cumberland, RI
575 Cumberland Hill Road | Woonsocket, RI
Manville Sportsmen's Rod and Gun Club
250 High Street | Manville, RI
Milford Federal Savings & Loan
246 Main Street | Milford, MA
1500 Diamond Hill Road | Woonsocket, RI
70 Pine Swamp Road | Cumberland | (401) 658-1100
3344 Mendon Road | Cumberland, RI
281 Harris Avenue | Woonsocket, RI
Wally Rathbun
Woonsocket, RI
Danielle Rondeau
Woonsocket, RI
84 Cumberland Street | Woonsocket, RI
2 Southwick Street | Mendon, MA
Timeless Antiques & Collectibles
Tammy Irwin, Mardi Gras Princess, 2017
91 Main Street | Woonsocket, RI | (401) 257-5796
Ann Jalette, 2019 Mardi Gras Queen
Vose True Value Hardware
849 Cumberland Hill Road | Woonsocket, RI
42 South Main Street, Garden Level Around Back | Woonsocket, RI
200 Woonsocket Hill Road | North Smithfield, RI
A SHORT HISTORY OF MARDI GRAS
Many of the traditions of Mardi Gras have their roots in a Roman festival called the Saturnalia which celebrated the end of winter and the coming of spring. Over time, and with the spread of Christianity, the festival became a final binge of feasting and self-indulgence before the sacrifice of Lent. In 17th century Paris, the celebration came to be known as Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday – a way for Christians to fatten up before the long Lenten season.
French settlers brought their traditions to Louisiana in 1766. By 1857, New Orleans began to develop its own traditions of masked balls, organized parades, and “throws” (favors such as beads, doubloons, and cups thrown from parade floats). In 1872, the King of Mardi Gras selected the celebration’s official colors of purple, green, and gold. The colors’ meanings were defined as justice (purple), faith (green), and power (gold) in 1892.
In 1954, the Mardi Gras tradition was started in Woonsocket by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. The four days of festivities earned the celebration the title of “Mardi Gras of the North.” The Jaycees’ involvement in Mardi Gras gave our king his name – King Jace.
Since 1995, the NRICA and the Mardi Gras Committee, with the invaluable help of our sponsors, have worked hard to bring the authentic feel and the fun of a traditional Mardi Gras celebration to Woonsocket.
Live music by
(Zydeco, Blues & Soul, Cajun Waltzes)
The Hall ... awaiting Mardi Gras revelers
St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center (available for rentals)
The 2023 Court at the Ball
Pictured (L-R) Princess Cynthia Henderson, King Jace XXVIIIth Adam Brunetti, Queen Tabitha Westerhuis, Princess Tonya Sawtelle
The Full Court with their chosen Princes
Sunday, February 4, 2024, 5 pm
2023 Mardi Gras Court (left to right)
2nd Princess Geralding Barclay-King, Queen Tabitha Westerhuis,
1st Princess Cynthia Henderson, and 3rd Princess Tonya Sawtell
Previous Kings & Queens
(click on links to see Mardi Gras page from that year)
1954 •
Pauline (Nadeau) Miller
1955 •
Maureen (Mazzarella) Kennedy
1956 •
Beverly (DiCesare) Russell*
1957 •
Pauline (Gagnon) Riendeau
1958 •
Rita (Laliberte) Nadeau
1959 •
Claire (Paul) Lafrance
1988 •
Michelle (Lefort) Wheeler
Owen Bebeau
•1995 •
Gloria Jean Roy
Roger Nault
• 1996 •
Paula Rezendes
Al Auclair
• 1997 •
Roxanne Menard
Leo Fontaine
• 1998 •
Dianna Glassey
Roger Jalette
• 1999 •
Donna Gallant
Ken Bianchi
• 2000 •
Nancy (Melvin) Beauregard
Noel Pincince
• 2001 •
Suzanne Beaulieu
Dave Richards
• 2002 •
Lorraine Jacob
Roger Petit
• 2003 •
Stacey (McCutcheon) Fitzsimmons
Roger Bouchard
• 2004 •
Roberta Baillargeon
Tom Ward
• 2005 •
Joyce LaPerle
Brian Blais
• 2006 •
Lorraine Guilbault
Marcel Desroches
• 2007 •
Nancy Phillips
• 2008 •
• 2009 •
• 2010 •
2023 Donors
(click on logo or link to visit our sponsors' websites)
Athena's Home Novelties
640 Winter Street | Woonsocket, RI
Sue Beaulieu
Mardi Gras Queen, 2001
North Smithfield, RI
Mardi Gras Queen, 2001
Irene Blais
Mardi Gras Queen, 2009
Woonsocket, RI
175 Main Street | Pawtucket, RI
John Boucher Real Estate Property Management, Inc.
600 Cass Avenue | Woonsocket, RI
with locations in Rhode Island (South Kingstown, West Warwick),
Massachusetts (Braintree, Hyannis, South Attleboro, Swansea)
68 Cumberland Street | Suite 202 | Woonsocket, RI | (401) 765-8880
Cercle Laurier
165 East School Street | Woonsocket, RI
Sharon Charette
North Smithfield, RI
490 Clinton Street | Woonsocket, RI | (401) 769-6622
Club Lafayette
289 Aylsworth Avenue | Woonsocket, RI
Paul and Jeannette Collette
Prudence Island, RI
Ann M. Fay
Canton, MA
Marlene Gagnon
North Smithfield, RI
1402 Victory Highway | North Smithfield, RI | 401-769-2220
285 Main Street | Woonsocket, RI | 401-488-4182
Clara Holding
"Life's Little Extras"
Narragansett, RI
389 Old River Road, Manville, RI
Ann Jalette
2019 Mardi Gras Queen
Cumberland, RI
575 Cumberland Hill Road | Woonsocket, RI
Manville Sportsmen's Rod and Gun Club
250 High Street | Manville, RI
Milford Federal Savings & Loan
246 Main Street | Milford, MA
1500 Diamond Hill Road | Woonsocket, RI
1500 Diamond Hill Road | Woonsocket, RI
70 Pine Swamp Road | Cumberland | (401) 658-1100
3344 Mendon Road | Cumberland, RI
281 Harris Avenue | Woonsocket, RI
Wally Rathbun
Woonsocket, RI
Danielle Rondeau
Woonsocket, RI
84 Cumberland Street | Woonsocket, RI
2 Southwick Street | Mendon, MA
Timeless Antiques & Collectibles
Tammy Irwin, Mardi Gras Princess, 2017
91 Main Street | Woonsocket, RI | (401) 257-5796
Ann Jalette, 2019 Mardi Gras Queen
Vose True Value Hardware
849 Cumberland Hill Road | Woonsocket, RI
42 South Main Street, Garden Level Around Back | Woonsocket, RI
200 Woonsocket Hill Road | North Smithfield, RI
A SHORT HISTORY OF MARDI GRAS
Many of the traditions of Mardi Gras have their roots in a Roman festival called the Saturnalia which celebrated the end of winter and the coming of spring. Over time, and with the spread of Christianity, the festival became a final binge of feasting and self-indulgence before the sacrifice of Lent. In 17th century Paris, the celebration came to be known as Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday – a way for Christians to fatten up before the long Lenten season.
French settlers brought their traditions to Louisiana in 1766. By 1857, New Orleans began to develop its own traditions of masked balls, organized parades, and “throws” (favors such as beads, doubloons, and cups thrown from parade floats). In 1872, the King of Mardi Gras selected the celebration’s official colors of purple, green, and gold. The colors’ meanings were defined as justice (purple), faith (green), and power (gold) in 1892.
In 1954, the Mardi Gras tradition was started in Woonsocket by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. The four days of festivities earned the celebration the title of “Mardi Gras of the North.” The Jaycees’ involvement in Mardi Gras gave our king his name – King Jace.
Since 1995, the NRICA and the Mardi Gras Committee, with the invaluable help of our sponsors, have worked hard to bring the authentic feel and the fun of a traditional Mardi Gras celebration to Woonsocket.