February 1-5
Carnival is a festival season that occurs before Lent, and it ends with Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). Sure, it's well-known that New Orleans hosts quite the wild party for the occasion. But you can get a little Big Easy flavor much closer to home. Local Mardi Gras-related fun includes a dog procession, a new parade and fest at Victory Park and plenty of other fun. Let the good times roll!
MARDI GRAS TEXAS STYLE Like Texas country musicians need an excuse to throw a party. They can call it Mardi Gras Texas Style all they want, but this is essentially two days of Lone Star singers, songwriters and pickers jamming onstage for a mass of whooping and hollering fans. And folks, for the money this shindig definitely pays. We're talking more than 20 bands on four stages. The lineup includes Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jason Aldean, Kevin Fowler, Randy Rogers Band, Roger Creager, Eleven Hundred Springs, Stoney LaRue and others. The inclusion of Mr. Aldean deserves special note. He's the only mainstream country star in the mix here. Plus, he's a Georgian who records on Nashville’s strong independent imprint Broken Bow Records. But his unpolished, Southern rocking sound puts him in a similar sonic league as his Mardi Gras mates. Check out his second CD, Relentless, a cool disc that creatively surpasses his million-selling debut. • Doors open Friday at 5 p.m., Saturday at noon at the Automobile Building, 1010 First Ave., in Fair Park. www.mardigrasdfw.com At the door each day: $40 general admission, $60 for a ticket with a VIP pass (for admission to an area near the front of the stage). For info on two-day passes and a schedule, check the Web site.
ARTISTIC KREWE OF BARKUS PARADE As stars in an annual Mardi Gras-inspired parade, they're clueless about the start of the Lenten season. But the furry participants in the Artistic Krewe of Barkus parade, modeled on New Orleans' famed Mystic Krewe of Barkus, probably lap up the attention from adoring spectators lining the route in historic downtown McKinney. This year's edition is themed "Rock and Roll Paw of Fame." Dogs and their friends of the two-legged variety are encouraged to dress the rock-star part while keeping in mind the Mardi Gras colors: purple, gold and green. Prizes will be awarded for categories such as best canine costume, best float (intended to encourage children to enter their decorated wagons and bicycles) and best use of theme. • Sunday at 2 p.m. at Mitchell Park, 300 W. Louisiana St., in downtown McKinney. 972-529-6872. www.artinstituteofmckinney.com Parade registration is $5 per dog and per float (registration deadline is Feb. 2 by noon); free for spectators.
CAJUN GRAS AND FAT TUESDAY Cajun Family Entertainment, a fraternal organization that caters to alumni of historically black colleges and universities, will present two events for the carnival season. The fifth annual Cajun Gras at Bacara on Saturday will be a party with beads, costumes and dancing to hip-hop, rap, reggae, R&B, house and zydeco music spun by DJ Phil of "The Beat" KBFB-FM (97.9). The second annual Fat Tuesday at Carsons Live will feature a buffet and crawfish boil, as well as DJ music by DJ Phil and others. 214-395-6517. www.cajunfamily.com • Cajun Gras: Saturday at 9:30 p.m. at Bacara, 14775 Midway. $10. • Fat Tuesday: Tuesday, Feb. 5, from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Carsons Live, 17727 Dallas Parkway. $10.
LAKE DALLAS MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION If you're not going to be in the French Quarter on Fat Tuesday, check out the New Orleans-style Lake Dallas Mardi Gras Celebration. The event, presented by the city, will include a parade with decorative floats; Cajun food (crawfish, Cajun-style turkey legs); festival fare such as hot dogs and funnel cakes; an area for alcohol sales and consumption; live music; and children's activities. There also will be crawfish-eating, costume and mask contests. • Tuesday, Feb. 5, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Lake Dallas City Hall parking lot, 212 Main St., Lake Dallas. Parade begins about 5:45 p.m. at City Park, Hundley Drive and Shady Shores. 940-497-2226, ext. 132. www.lakedallas.com/calendar.html Free admission.
MYSTIQAL The inaugural MystiQal nighttime parade and street festival will get things hopping at Victory Park on Saturday. In the style of New Orleans' carnival traditions, Dallas' parade will feature marching bands (including the Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band), elaborate floats, and bead and doubloon throwing. The official festival grounds will be in an open space on High Market Street. That's where you'll find food and drink, including crawfish, chicken and biscuits, red beans and rice, beignets, hurricanes and beer. Dennis Cavalier and the Texas Gumbo will perform zydeco dance tunes, and the Inner City All-Stars will play. Tarot card-and palm-readers will be on hand for fortunetelling. There won't be any children's activities, and organizers recommend leaving the kids at home. Restaurants and bars in and around the Victory Park residential, retail and entertainment development will host Mardi Gras-themed events. Also, check out the Mardi Gras Run, a 5K race that will benefit Captain Hope's Kids, an organization that provides help for homeless children. The event is being produced by Quick, a free weekday newspaper owned by The Dallas Morning News. Victory Park is a sponsor of the festival. • Street festival: Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. Parking lot and adjacent park on High Market Street between Victory Avenue and Houston Street. 214-977-8155. www.quickdfw.com/mystiqal Free. • Parade: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Steps off near Victory rail station, Victory Avenue at Valor Place; ends at Olive and Houston streets. Free. • Mardi Gras Run 5K: Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (registration at 4). Starts at Woodall Rodgers Plaza (Houston Street and Continental Avenue). 214-821-0909. www.runontexas.com $25 in advance, $30 on race day.
KARNIVAL AND FASCHING FEST GermanDeli.com hosts a traditional Bavarian-style carnival celebration with German food samplings, cooking demonstrations, a costume contest and children's activities. There will also be dancing and music provided by a four-piece Alpine band. • Feb. 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. GermanDeli.com Outlet store, 2890 Market Loop, Southlake. Free. 817-410-9955. germandeli.com
BINGO NIGHT AT THE LAKEWOOD THEATER Bingo night takes on a Mardi Gras flair for this event benefiting the East Dallas Boys & Girls Club. Cash prizes will be awarded for each game. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the concession stand. • Feb. 1 at 8 (doors open at 7). Lakewood Theater, 1825 Abrams. $30. 214-828-2200.
T. RICHARD & THE ZYDECO STINGRAYS Just try to resist tapping your toes to this zydeco band. • Feb. 2 at 9 p.m. Allgood Cafe. 2934 Main. $10. 214-742-5362. www.allgoodcafe.com
AW SHUCKS, BIG SHUCKS Fat Tuesday specials at both locations include $2 Tecate beer, $1.50 draft beer and $3.95 crawfish (1 pound). • Tuesday, Feb. 5, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aw Shucks, 3601 Greenville Ave., 214-821-9449; Big Shucks, 6232 E. Mockingbird Lane, 214-887-6353.
DADDY JACK’S WOOD GRILL The Deep Ellum eatery features Cajun menu specials for $10, $2 hurricanes and other drink specials. Tim Alexander will be tickling the ivories, too. • Tuesday, Feb. 5, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Daddy Jack's Wood Grill, 2723 Elm. 214-653-3949. www.daddyjackswoodgrill.com.
DICK'S LAST RESORT The Queen and King of Mardi Gras will lead a parade, complete with bead-throwing, at this boisterous nightspot. The Gumbo Kings will play Southern Louisiana favorites, and the winner of the best costume contest will win receive his or her weight in cash in honor of Fat Tuesday. • Tuesday, Feb. 5, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dick's Last Resort, 2211 N. Lamar. Free admission. 214-747-0001. www.dickslastresort.com
TANTRA INDIAN BISTRO AND LOUNGE Win a door prize for a creative costume at Tantra's party, which features drink specials, half-price hookahs and music by DJ Fresh. • Tuesday, Feb. 5, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tantra Indian Bistro and Lounge, 3401 Preston, Frisco. Free admission. 972-335-1300 www.tantraindianrestaurant.com
