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Saturday, February 6, 2010

 

BANDS: Featuring

Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys 
  and Slippery Sneakers

TICKETS: $25 in advance, $30 at door.  Call Lorraine Cloutier at (401) 762-9072

PLACE: CYO Center

TIME: Doors open at 6 pm, Buffet served from 6:30 - 8 pm

BUFFET CATERED BY: Gary McLaughlin

EMCEE: WNRI's Jeff Gamache

King Jace contest sponsored by Dave Richards of WOON Radio

This year's Mardi Gras is dedicated to Paul "Jack" Lawhead who died on December 21 following a long battle with cancer. Lawhead was a founding member of the Opera House Society which was established in 1972 with the intention of restoring the Woonsocket Opera House to its former days of glory. After a suspicious blaze destroyed the historic landmark in 1975, the group focused on ways to up-grade the community by means of the arts for the benefit of the common good by re-organizing itself as the Northern Rhode Island Council of the Arts {NRICA). One of its major contributions was the establishment of the Beacon Charter School. The NRICA sponsors the French Farmers Market held each fall as well as the annual Mardi Gras celebration which takes place every winter in Woonsocket. Lawhead taught English and Theater Arts for many years as a member of the faculty of Woonsocket High School. Our friend and colleague will be missed.

Clues to King Jace XVI’s Identity More clues to come! 1. The king of more than his castle. 2. Loves the Red Sox and spaghetti with red sauce. 3. Wears a different costume to work. 4. King Jace is a Leo. 5. His favorite color is blue. 6. Cleaned up on the south shore. 7. Will hash it out with anyone, but hates it. 8. Never was a snow bird. 9. Used to whistle at passersby. 10. King Jace will protect you. And King Jace XVI is: Woonsocket's Chief of Police, Thomas S. Carey

 

Mardi Gras Emcee Jeff Gamache

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MENU (Buffet served 6:30-8 pm)

(menu subject to change)

Catering by Gary McLaughlin

French Onion Soup
Hot Red Bliss Potato Salad
Red Beans and Rice with Spicy Sausage
New Orleans Style Pork
Steamed Crawfish

Creole Chicken
Chicken Gumbo
Cajun Style Catfish
French Bread
Tossed Salad
Hot Bourbon St. Pudding

Coffee

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Mardi Gras Children's Celebration

Saturday, February 6, 2010, 2-4 pm
The Museum of Work and Culture, 42 South Main Street, Woonsocket, RI
Food provided by Gary McLaughlin

Free admission (limited to the first 60 children), free refreshments
And a free film will be shown!

Sponsored by Catholic Family Life Insurance, Chapter Martel No. 2

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Our Sponsors

 

Gold Sponsors ($1000+)

WalMart Store #2225, 1919 Diamond Hill Road, Woonsocket
      

Green Sponsor ($250+)

Fun at last year's Mardi Gras! J.J. Caillier leads a conga line (2009)

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Previous Kings & Queens

	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
Ray Gaboury	• 2008 •	Monique Noel
Steve Moreau	• 2009 •	Irene Blais
Thomas S. Carey	• 2010 •

 

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2010 Mardi Gras Committee   Connie Anderson Sue Beaulieu Sue Bernier *Romeo Berthiaume Irene Blais Roger Bonin Sharon Charette Lorraine Cloutier Jeannette Cousineau Marlene Gagnon Joan R. Gahan Wil Godin Monique Jean Jack Lawhead Clara L’Heureux Bill Marrah Ray Nolan Ray Rivet Patrick Ryan Brenda Viscione-Ryan

*Committee Chair

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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.