Muncie stumbled onto something great when it delayed the annual Muncie Gras celebration from February to March.
While we might have been quick to complain about the decision to postpone the event from Feb. 20 to March 20 (because the originally planned day turned out to be fairly nice), it turned out to be a good thing.
The event sure seemed to be successful Saturday night. The streets were jam-packed, Doc's Music Hall was wall-to-wall and the lines to the outside toilets were awful and long. This is also probably the only event in Muncie where you might witness some public nudity, whether you want to or not.
It's understandable that the organizers thought it was important to host Muncie Gras near the day of the actual Mardi Gras. But why not let this become an annual Mardi Gras-themed party during a warmer, spring month? It's doubtful Muncie locals would be angry the event isn't in February; they'd probably prefer it. We don't exactly need proximity in date to Mardi Gras as an excuse to throw a huge party.
February in Indiana is bone-chilling and is often the snowiest month; neither of those conditions inspire the partying crowd to mingle on the streets of downtown for long. Continuing the event in March, or even April, would be a welcome change of pace and could inspire an even bigger crowd.
Obviously, Muncie is not even slightly close to New Orleans. The average temperature for New Orleans in February is 54 degrees. Muncie's average is in the 30s. Twenty degrees makes a big difference.
Perhaps, if an increase in attendance resulted from a March Muncie Gras, the perimeter of the event could be extended — welcoming more revelers, bands and eateries selling delicious, greasy food on the roads that run through the heart of downtown.
Read More
Ball State launches Division of People and Culture, appoints new VP
By Ball State Daily / 11 hours agoThe new division, launching on July 1, positions Ball State to better support its faculty and staff by modernizing human resources services and aligning them more strategically with the university’s long-term goals.
IPR: 1 in 4 Hoosier households struggle with necessities, despite employment
By Indiana Public Radio / 22 hours agoIn 2023, 29 percent of Hoosiers working the state’s most common jobs struggled to afford basic necessities. That’s according to a new United Way report. Some of these jobs include nursing assistants, cashiers and teachers. The report highlights the potential economic impact these workers experience.
IPR: Indiana Democrats discuss party’s future during Muncie town hall
By Indiana Public Radio / YesterdayIndiana Democrats gathered at a town hall in Muncie Saturday to spotlight the long-term effects of state and federal Republican policies. As IPR’s Thomas Ouellette reports, Democrats discussed Indiana’s property tax overhaul and the future of the state’s party.
