Villagers from throughout Florida’s Friendliest Hometown – many decked out in wacky costumes and plenty of green, purple and gold beads – packed into Lake Sumter Landing on Tuesday night to enjoy the annual Mardi Gras celebration.
The Fat Tuesday festivities officially got under way at 4 p.m. and lasted for a good five hours. Entertainers on the main stage included Stu Okra and the Fixins and the 2nd Line Mardi Gras band.
Thousands of Villagers and other area residents spent the night mingling throughout Market Square and enjoying each other’s company. Food trucks – a popular fixture in the newest part of the community – provided a variety of beverages and treats and the lines at the beer huts remained long throughout the evening.
Those in attendance also enjoyed additional entertainment provided by resident performance groups that included Aloha ‘O Ka Hula dancers, Sweet & Sassy line dancers, Mystic Jewels Dance Troupe and The Original Villages Belly Dancers.
A Dixieland band sporting musicians playing trumpet, tuba, trombones and drums slowly made its way around Market Square, accompanied by two dancing revelers from Orlando who clearly espoused the Mardi Gras spirit in every way.
“This is really good,” said Joanne Collins, who was sporting a pink wig and a green feather boa.
“It’s awesome,” added Kaitlyn Cahalen, who was wearing a short purple wig and flashing around a multi-colored boa. “It was fun and I learned a lot.”
For many attending the event, a popular stopping place was in front of City Fire, where three members of the Louisiana Club were decked out in their finest Mardi Gras gear and definitely showing the spirit of the famous celebration that New Orleans is known for worldwide.
“We’re organizing the troops,” said Diane Bourn, of the Village of Del La Vista. “There’s about 30 of us that really show up to have a great time.”
Bourn, who graduated from Louisiana State University, then donned a Tiger head and offered her thoughts on the current college football National Champions.
“LSU!” she shouted as several passers-by smiled and waved. “Go Tigers!” she added, pointing out that club members enjoy getting together to watch Tigers, Saints and Ragin’ Cajun football games on television.
Club members David and Barbara Bradley, of the Village of Liberty Park, also were enjoying the festivities. Both were decked out in extensive Mardi Gras gear, with David sporting a jester hat and matching costume, a fancy earring, bright green shoes and purple fingernails, among other things.
“We’re having a Mardi Gras celebration,” David said, while holding a beer stein that he said never seemed to be empty. “We try to do this every year. And City Fire is our spot.”
David, of Lake Charles, La., also encouraged Villagers to come out and enjoy celebrations like the annual Mardi Gras party.
“It always a good time,” he said. “Any time they close the streets off and have street vendors and all that, it’s always a good time here in The Villages.”
Not surprisingly, both David and Barbara – she was decked out in a fabulous costume that included a green, gold and purple boa, plenty of beads and a fancy top hat – were in high demand for partiers passing by with their cell phone cameras at the ready.
“I’ve been here about an hour and a half and I’ve had my picture taken about 200 times,” David said with a huge smile.
Meanwhile, friends Clifford MacDonald and Karen Cantor, both originally from Buffalo, N.Y., also were enjoying the night at Lake Sumter Landing. David said he’s staying in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown for two months and is mostly likely going to purchase a house and retire here. As for what brought him out for the Mardi Gras celebration, he said it was really quite simple.
“The music, of course, and the fun,” he said. “We are enjoying our time here. It’s great and every night’s a party.”
Cantor, a Village of Rio Grande resident who has lived in The Villages since 2005, said Tuesday night’s street party was nothing short of fabulous.
“I feel like getting up and dancing,” she said with a huge smile, adding that she’d already participated in a line dance earlier in the evening.
MacDonald, also sporting a huge grin, said he hadn’t yet found a song that would get him out on the dance floor.
“But the beer is always good,” he said with a chuckle.
