Krewe de Columbi-Ya-Ya’s Mardi Gras Celebration to Benefit The Animal Mission | Arts & Culture

Columbia’s first Mardi Gras krewe, Krewe de Columbi-Ya-Ya, announces plans for its third annual parade and celebration, which will take place on Saturday, February 9, 2013.

 The parade will travel along Rosewood Dr. Following the parade, the Mardi Gras celebration will continue with a festival including live music and food at City Roots (1005 Airport Blvd.). The Animal Mission will also host a pet parade as part of the festivities and all proceeds from the pet parade and the Mardi Gras celebration will benefit The Animal Mission.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

10 a.m.: Registration for pet parade begins

12 p.m.: Parade begins at City Roots and heads up Rosewood Drive

1:30 – 10 p.m. The parade ends the Mardi Gras Festival begins at City Roots

PET PARADE:

The Animal Mission invites all animal lovers and animal-welfare organizations in the Midlands to deck out their dogs in their finest Mardi Gras attire and join the pet parade, which will travel as part of the Mardi Gras parade. Registration for the pet parade is $5 and will take place at City Roots before the parade begins.

The animal-welfare organization in the Midlands with the most registrants for the pet parade will receive a $250 donation from The Animal Mission. Best-dressed animals will win prizes.

MARDI GRAS PARADE:

Krewe de Columbi-Ya-Ya, who leads the parade, encourages members of the public to form their own krewes for the parade or join their krewe (space permitting). This year, the lively parade will feature Bud Ferillo and Danielle Howle as the king and queen of the festival.

Members of the public who aren’t participating in the parade are encouraged to watch the parade and pet parade travel along Rosewood Drive. 

MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL AT CITY ROOTS:

Following the parade, a festival at City Roots will begin, featuring a full lineup of live music. Admission is $10. Food, beer and wine will be available for purchase and Larry Hembree will emcee the event.

Music lineup: Captain Midnight, a band from New Orleans, will headline the event. Blues legend, Drink Small, and Little Caesar (Zydeco from New Orleans), will also perform. The Greater Society for the Preservation of Soul, Andy Friedman and the Failures (Brooklyn, NY) and Cary Hudson (of Blue Mountain Band, Oxford, MS) will play. Local bands including Can’t Kids, Say Brother and more will also perform as part of the 22-band lineup.

Food vendors will serve gumbo, barbecue, boudin, seafood dishes, burgers and more.

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Parking is available at Memorial Stadium at the corner of Airport Blvd. and Commerce Dr. Attendees from surrounding neighborhoods are encouraged to walk.