Mardi Gras 2023

28th Mardi Gras
Saturday, February 18th, 2023
5:30 pm - 10:30 pm

(Doors open at 5 pm, Dinner served from 6-8 pm, Cash Bar)

St. Ann Arts & Cultural Center
84 Cumberland Street, Woonsocket, RI

SOLD OUT!

Live music by

The Squeezebox Stompers
(Zydeco, Blues & Soul, Cajun Waltzes)

 

FULL BUFFET

with Cajun, Creole, and French Canadian food

French Coleslaw

Artisan Breads & Whipped Butter
French Meat Pie from Chelo's
New Orleans Chicken & Sausage over Pasta
Marque Choux

 Cajun Dirty Rice 
 Maple Green Beans 
Creole Garlic Roasted Potatoes
Mardi Gras Cake

Coffee Station

                          

The Hall ... awaiting Mardi Gras revelers

St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center (available for rentals)

 

The 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 AND THE UNMASKING OF KING JACE

Sunday, February 12, 2023 from 5-7 pm

at Savini's Pomodoro

476 Rathbun Street, Woonsocket, RI


2023 Mardi Gras Court (left to right)
2nd Princess Geraldine Barclay-King, Queen Tabitha Westerhuis,
1st Princess Cynthia Henderson, and 3rd Princess Tonya Sawtell

King Jace contest sponsored by Dave Richards of WOON Radio

Clues to King Jace XXVIII's Identity

1. Doesn't care how much eggs cost...he hates 'em!

2.  A world traveler, King Jace is Woonsocket born and raised.

3.  Would walk a mile for chicken tenders.

4.  Loves L.A.

5.  Would trade summer for winter any day.

6.  Wouldn't be caught dead in pink.

7.  Salt, pepper, and butter... and THAT'S IT!

8.  Is involved in "Everything."

9.  You won't see him on Broadway or the theater, but you will see him at karaoke or trivia night.

10. A fan of outdoor concerts and local businesses.

The King emerges!
Dave Richards, the King's Liaison, has documented appearances of the Mysterious Monarch, King Jace XXVIIIth, in and around landmarks in his kingdom of Woonsocket.
King Jace XXVIIIth, Adam Brunetti, after being unmasked by Queen Tabitha Westerhuis.

 

 

Mardi Gras Queen Contestants
2023 Mardi Gras Queen Tabitha Westerhuis is the daughter of Roland and Judy Beauchemin, the proprietors of Missy’s Family Restaurant in Woonsocket, previously known as Kevin’s Galley. Tabitha and her family are committed to serving the community particularly with the homeless, elderly and our veterans as they offered meals to those in need on Thanksgiving. Tabitha also volunteered with St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center, New Beginnings, Autumnfest and chaperoned field trips. She is the proud mother of two children and likes to be part of the community, creating a legacy for her children, family and community. She believes that family, community, and small business are the keys to success.
	Mardi Gras Princess Cynthia Henderson is a resident of Woonsocket and is very active in the community. She is on the Autumnfest Steering Committee and is also the St. James Baptist Church Youth Praise Dance Coordinator and the Choir Director for St. James Church. Cynthia enjoys working with children in the community and is passionate about all she does. She wants to be Queen of Mardi Gras to show all the little girls to fulfill their dreams and have a part in the community. She is an employee as On Process Technology. Cynthia is running for Mardi Gras Queen to support the students who are looking to get scholarships through the NRICA.
Mardi Gras Princess Geraldine Barclay-King is the owner of Geri's Bluffing Boutique, LLC and is an active member of the Downtown Woonsocket Collaborative, the Economic Progress Institute, and Saint James Baptist Church. She enjoys gardening and watching things bloom, listening to all genres of music, dancing, and spreading positivity and sunlight wherever she goes. She is and her husband Charles are the proud parents of Corine, Samantha, Charles Jr., and Arthur. She is running for Mardi Gras Queen to show other brown and black little girls that they, too, can be a Queen or Princess in a primarily French Canadian City and to help the Northern Rhode Island Council of the Arts raise funds to keep Mardi Gras going.
	Mardi Gras Princess Tonya Sawtelle was born and raised in Woonsocket and has been living in Greenville for the past 16 years. She is the owner of Papo's Pub in Woonsocket and previously worked as a CNA at the Ballou Home. She loves helping people and getting involved in any cause that benefits the city. She also loves spending time with her grandchildren. Tonya has a daughter, Milleah, that attends UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine, and two adult stepchildren, Mateo and Alexis. She is the daughter of Phyllis and John Sawtelle. She is running for Mardi Gras Queen to help the Northern Rhode Island Council of the Arts to raise funds to continue this wonderful event in the community.
The crowns and sashes await their regal wearers at the Coronation. The Queen and Princesses about to start their royal duties at the Ball.

QUEEN CONTEST RAFFLE PRIZES

1st prize  $500 cash

2nd prize  $300 cash

3rd prize  $100 cash

 

4th prize $50 gift card

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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
Ray Gaboury	• 2008 •	Monique Noel
Steve Moreau	• 2009 •	Irene Blais
Thomas S. Carey	• 2010 •	Linda Trudeau
Barry Mechanic	• 2011 •	Amanda Corriveault
William D. Schneck Jr.	• 2012 •	Jackie Boudreau
John Gregory	• 2013 •	Sandy Paul
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
Mardi Gras Committee Irene Blais Sharon Charette Paul Collette Dominique Doiron Marlene Gagnon* Bob Guernon Denise Guernon Tammy Irwin# Ann Jalette Barbara Ozanian# Wally Rathbun* Madeleine Riendeau Angela Rondeau Marianne Valentin *Committee Co-Chairs #Queen's Contest Co-Chairs   NRICA Members and Volunteers                                   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. (c) 2007- NRICA. Updated February 22, 2023