People dancing in the streets, eating good food and basically enjoying all the joys of life ... in Muncie?
That's right. On Saturday night, people will celebrate the New Orleans tradition of Mardi Gras in downtown Muncie for the third straight year.
The event, starting at 8 p.m., is being organized once again by Muncie Downtown Development and is for people 21 years old and above. Although Muncie is a good deal colder in February than New Orleans is, Cheryl Crowder, the special events coordinator for Muncie Downtown Development, said the temperature has not been a deterrent in the past.
"We had Mardi Gras last year, and it was 18 degrees outside by about nine o'clock, but we still had 8,000 people," Crowder said.
This year, the weather forecast is much more favorable and Brian Lough, the director of downtown development, said he expects the crowd to reach roughly 10,000 people. Lough also said he thinks that many Ball State students will venture downtown to enjoy the festivities based on last year's college student turnout.
"We had quite a few students ride the free trolley downtown back and forth to Ball State," he said. "I think there were about 3,000."
The setting for Muncie's version of Mardi Gras is three city blocks around Walnut Street. Del Herald, the owner Stirling's Bar & Eatery located at 114 N. Mulberry St., said the event has brought a lot of business to many downtown businesses.
"We always see repeat business, and yet we always see new business," she said. "It is always nice to see new people coming downtown."
Lough said that Muncie Mardi Gras acts as a great opportunity for people to see all the improvements that have occurred downtown recently.
"It gives us exposure to all that is happening downtown and all the changes that have been made, and there are many," he said.
Muncie Mardi Gras also showcases the true atmosphere of downtown Muncie, which can at times get a bad rap, Herald said.
"I hope it shows people that downtown is nice place to be, a safe place to be," Herald said.
For those who might think that Muncie's version cannot hold a candle to its more famous predecessor, Crowder said that Muncie Mardi Gras is actually very similar to the traditional one in New Orleans.
"I've been to New Orleans several times for Mardi Gras, and it is amazing to not see that much of a difference," she said. "Everything you would see in New Orleans, you will see here; except for the parade."
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