Mardi Gras 2024


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

Menu |Sponsors | Queen Contestants | Previous Queens & Kings | Mardi Gras Committee | Short History of Mardi Gras

SOLD OUT!


Live music by

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



 

FULL BUFFET

with Cajun, Creole, and French Canadian food


French Coleslaw

French Rolls & Butter
French Meat Pie from Chelo's
Creole Barbeque Pulled Pork
Cajun Dirty Rice 
New Orleans Chicken over Pasta
Maple Green Beans with Bacon
Cake

Coffee Station


                          



The Hall ... awaiting Mardi Gras revelers

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

 

MARDI GRAS QUEEN'S CORONATION

Sunday, February 4, 2024, 5 pm

at the Italian Workingmen's Club

947 Diamond Hill Road, Woonsocket, RI


2024 Mardi Gras Court (left to right)
1st Princess Jeanne Michon, Queen Lauren Fagnant,
2nd Princess Denise Salaices


THE FULL COURT

Pictured (left to right): Prince Robert Michon and Princess Jeanne Michon,

Princess Denise Salaices and Prince Christon Moxam,

Queen Lauren Fagnant and King Leon Fagnant


 

 

Mardi Gras Queen Contestants

 



Lauren Fagnant recently began a position as Treatment Coordinator at Seven Hills Foundation which provides clinical, educational and community-based support to children and adults with disabilities and significant life challenges. In the previous 12 years, she worked as a teacher and center administrator in  early childhood education. An avid volunteer, Lauren runs an annual food drive for MAE Organization for the Homeless, is a member at Woonsocket Elks Lodge, participates every January 1st in the Special Olympics RI Penguin Plunge, and volunteers at Autumnfest Harvest Garden as a bartender. As a former teacher, she recognizes the importance of arts and music for all of society. She hopes that raising money for the NRICA Jack Lawhead Scholarship for the Arts will help ensure we will have the arts for future generations. She notes that, during an interview, Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band said “people don’t understand we’re the only country in the world that thinks art is a luxury. Everyone else in the world understands that art is an essential part of the quality of life!” By raising funds for the NRICA, supporting their mission and supporting youth in our community, she hopes to bring that “essential” part of life back to our community. When not working and volunteering, she enjoys camping, going to the beach, and live music concerts. She is very creative and likes to make craft/art pieces, cooking and hosting gatherings for friends and family. Lauren’s parents are Kay & David Fagnant, sister Hannah Fagnant, brother-in-law Stephen Borges, nieces Ellie & Riley, and grandparents Jeanne & Leon Fagnant. She thanks all of her extended family for their support.


Mardi Gras Queen
Jeanne R. Michon is the Executive Director & Chef at New Beginnings, a local kitchen “to feed the whole person from mind, body, soul, heart, to stomach.” She volunteers for several organizations, including the Downtown Woonsocket Collaborative, Autumnfest, the Rotary Club (former Board Member) and Woonsocket Tots (also as a former Board Member). She was honored in 2022 with the Autumnfest Grand Marshall Award and was also a Rotary Club Vocational Award winner. Jeanne has entered the Mardi Gras Queen contest to help raise money for scholarships to give back to students in the city. She has many interests, including cooking, gardening, swimming, going to the movies, shopping, couponing and rescuing animals. Jeanne is married to Robert P. Michon and has a daughter, Aubrey R. Michon.


Mardi Gras 1st Princess


  

   

 

Denise Salaices is a banker at Citizens Bank and works as an ambassador connecting for children and families, helping people to manage their financial wellbeing, teaching them how to save for a home purchase and clean up their credit. She is a very busy volunteer, working with the Bellingham VFW, donating to local charities, making presentations for high school and college career day awareness, and volunteering for the Breast Cancer Center, RI Zoological Society, Books are Wings, Cardz for Kidz, and the Gotta Have Sole Foundation. Having grown up in Woonsocket, she wants to bring awareness of the arts and cultural community, what they offer and to help others. Denise leads an active life traveling, boating, fishing, appreciating custom cars, and riding motorcycles. She is so proud of her son Michael Salaices and her granddaughter Maddisyn, grandsons Trevor and Camden, and her sisters & brothers.


Mardi Gras 2nd Princess


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

Previous Kings & Queens

(click on links to see Mardi Gras page from that year)

Confetti

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

 

Mardi Gras Committee

Suzanne Beaulieu

Irene Blais

Sharon Charette
Paul Collette

Mary Concannon
Dominique Doiron

Nancy Fafard 

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
       
             
           


2024 Donors and Sponsors

(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

 

Blackstone Valley Tourism
175 Main Street | Pawtucket, RI

 

Irene Blais
Mardi Gras Queen, 2009

Woonsocket, RI


John Boucher Real Estate Property Management
John Boucher Real Estate Property Management, Inc.
600 Cass Avenue | Woonsocket, RI

 

 

The Call & Times


Cardi's Furniture
with locations in Rhode Island (South Kingstown, West Warwick),
Massachusetts (Braintree, Hyannis, South Attleboro, Swansea)



165 East School Street | Woonsocket, RI
 

Sharon Charette
North Smithfield, RI



490 Clinton Street | Woonsocket, RI | (401) 769-6622


 

Lorraine Cloutier

Woonsocket, RI

 

Club Lafayette
Club Lafayette
289 Aylsworth Avenue | Woonsocket, RI

 

Paul and Jeannette Collette

Prudence Island, RI

 

 

With Locations in Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland,

East Greenwich, North Kingstown, Smithfield, Warwick, and Wickford


 

Nancy Fafard

Woonsocket, RI


Ann M. Fay

Canton, MA



Fournier & Fournier

99 Cumberland Street & 463 South Main Street | Woonsocket, RI | 401-769-0940

 

Marlene Gagnon
North Smithfield, RI

 

285 Main Street | Woonsocket, RI
401-488-4182 | BluffingBoutique@gmail.com

 

Clara Holding
"Life's Little Extras"
Narragansett, RI



Hunter Insurance
389 Old River Road, Manville, RI

 


Ann Jalette

2019 Mardi Gras Queen

Cumberland, RI

 


1013 Cass Avenue | Woonsocket, RI



L'il General

547 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

 


"Home of the all natural medicine cabinet" | https://www.mymagicalemporium.com/

Joe Nadeau

Woonsocket, RI

 

Park Square Wine & Spirits

60 Eddie Dowling Highway | North Smithfield, RI 


70 Pine Swamp Road | Cumberland | (401) 658-1100

 


Judith Potter Photography
281 Harris Avenue | Woonsocket, RI

 

 

Vern Rainville

Public Adjuster

240 Railroad Street | Manville, RI 02838 | 1-484-300-8495

vernrain@cox.net

 

 

Wally Rathbun

Woonsocket, RI


74 South Main Street | Woonsocket, RI | (401)-235-9026 

 


 

 

 

2 Southwick Street | Mendon, MA

 

Stadium Theatre
Stadium Theatre
28 Monument Square, Woonsocket, RI

84 Cumberland Street | Woonsocket, RI

 

 

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

 

900 Victory Highway, #3 | North Smithfield, RI


A SHORT HISTORY OF MARDI GRAS

Robert Graves Leonard of Slippery Sneakers
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.
 

Mardi Gras 2007French 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.”  

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.