BRECK MARDI GRAS 2011

Celebrate carnival season with a twist of skiing, sunshine and Fat Tuesday revelry in Breckenridge!

Mardi Gras meets the mountains with a masquerade ball, live music and Main Street parade in Breckenridge, this carnival season (March 5-8, 2011) with outstanding ski conditions, incredible lodging deals and a weekend-long mountain town celebration.

2011 BRECK MARDI GRAS EVENT SCHEDULE:

–Saturday, March 5, 2011: Bacchus Ball – This mountain-formal masquerade ball lights up the night with live music by Hazel Miller. Miller’s soulful vocals will provide the soundtrack to an evening of celebration, complete with hurricane cocktails, New Orleans-style cuisine, plenty of beads and the crowing of the 2011 Rex and Queen. Guests are encouraged to get into the carnival spirit with costumes and masks, which will be sold at the event. Tickets are available for $45 each or $85 per couple, The Bacchus Ball is a 21+ event.

–Monday, March 7, 2011: Free Lundi Gras Concert – This Monday night concert keeps the carnival spirit alive with a free performance by BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet. Since their inception in 1975, the Louisiana-based musicians have blazed trails to become one of the most well-known Cajun bands around. A zydeco band that taps into the sounds of blues, jazz, calypso and more, BeauSoleil will perform for free at 6:00 p.m. at the Riverwalk Center.

–Tuesday, March 8, 2011: Fat Tuesday Parade – The celebration culminates with Summit County’s only Mardi Gras parade at 4:30 p.m. on Fat Tuesday. Join the party on Main Street to see floats and costumed characters throwing beads for all. Post-parade parties will be held at restaurants and bars around town; celebrate the night with drink specials, music and more. To enter your float in the parade for FREE.

How did Mardi Gras find its way to the mountains?

Some 15 years ago, a tight-knit group of New Orleanians decided to trade Mardi Gras crowds for skiing and sunshine in Breckenridge, Colo. It wasn’t long before they realized they couldn’t do without hometown traditions; but since the group loved Breckenridge too much to leave, they brought a little bit of NOLA to 9,600 feet.

Today, the Town of Breckenridge has expanded upon the revelry to include the Bacchus Ball, Lundi Gras concert and more. Join the Breckenridge community to honor Rex (the king of Mardi Gras) in true mountain style: with skiing, snow play and an all-out party on Main Street.