Mardi Gras
Set aside Saturday, February 23 for Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce’s 7th Annual New Olean’s Mardi Gras, a version of New Orlean’s largest celebration. Mardi Gras will be held at the Old Library Restaurant, 116 South Union Street, in Olean, from 8 PM - Midnight. Mardi Gras festivities start as you enter the Bourbon Street dining room, and are greeted with those famous beads, masks and coins. The fun begins as DJ Dan Shembeda, our Mardi Gras entertainer, takes the floor!Tickets for this annual event are $30 per person and include plenty of New Orlean’s style finger foods, music, and dancing. The Old Library Restaurant will serve up Cajun styled food such as: Shrimp Gumbo, Cajun Swordfish, Bayou Chicken Tornadoes; Battered Pepper Steak Skewers; Smoked Sausage Jambalaya; and so much more. Don’t like the hot and spicy? Don’t worry the menu also includes Parmesan Artichoke Hearts; Bacon and Cheddar Stuffed New Potatoes; Carl’s Boneless Chiken Bites; Bruschetta; Peel and Eat Shrimp; Caesar Salad Station. Oh and the desserts ~ dine on Mardi Gras’ famous King Cake, Banana Foster, Sedona Pie and Raspberry Cheese Cake Chimis.
Hand-made costumes are encouraged for this casual event and will be judged with the winners crowned King and Queen of Mardi Gras 2008. Wear the colors of Mardi Gras! The official colors of Mardi Gras have been purple, gold and green, since Rex, the King of Mardi Gras Carnival, selected them in 1872. While they were probably chosen simply because they looked good together, Rex assigned a meaning to each: purple represents justice, green stands for faith; and gold signifies power.
Other entertainment at Mardi Gras will include a Karaoke Contest, Crawfish Eating Contest with great prizes provided by the Old Library Restaurant, Spiritual Reader, and Tarot Card Reader. Ericatures by Eric Jones will also be available to create your Mardi Gras caricatures. Each attendee will receive a goodie bag which includes the famous Mardi Gras beads, mask, chocolate coins, and one drink ticket. The beads have been a part of Mardi Gras since they were tossed off floats in 1871, when a masker aboard a float in the Twelfth Night Revelers parade dispensed gifts to the crowd.
This event is the first of the many Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce events held throughout the year. Tickets can be purchased by calling (716) 372-4433 or by emailing member@oleanny.com.
GOACC