The vibrant colour of New Orleans’ French Quarter comes alive as Vinok Worldance introduces the pageantry of Mardi Gras 2012.
On Saturday the Grand Ballroom of the Chateau Louis Hotel will be decked out like a replica Bourbon Street, the famed avenue that is credited as the birthplace of jazz.
Roving musicians, costumed dancers, a piano bar and gourmet-style Louisiana Cajun fare such as gumbo and jambalaya will serve to heighten the party atmosphere.
The dancers, including St. Albert resident Paige Tirs, will be dancing an amalgam of African, Cajun, Spanish and Cape Breton dances.
“We’re trying to recreate a city street from the food kiosks to an indoor street parade. Last year we turned the street parade into a conga line and limbo contest,” says Will Cramer, a former St. Albert resident, guitarist and production manager for the show.
Tickets for Mardi Gras 2012 are $75 per person and are available at the Vinok office by calling 780-454-3739 or emailing [email protected].
Edmonton’s longest running winter festival returns as a colourful extravaganza of arts, culture, recreation and sports.
A major winter draw, the Silver Skate Festival is a free, all-ages celebration that brings families together at Hawrelak Park on Feb. 17 to 20.
It features recreational activities such as skate and ski races for all ages, strength and ability along with winter sports demonstrations. For the less competitive there are a wide variety of events such as an ice slide, cross country ski, snow shoe rentals, sledge hockey, snow sculpting, figure skating demos and horse drawn family sleigh rides.
On the cultural side, there are roving performers, face painters, clowns and a dog sledding demo by the Northern Alberta Mushers Association.
One of the most exciting events is the snow sculpture competition where ice sculptors create eight-foot high works of art that are judged and awarded prizes.
And this year, Baba Yaga’s costumed characters along with Prince Ivan go on a quest to capture the Firebird that has been stealing golden apples from the kingdom. It ends in a nightly fire sculpture installation that burns and pays homage to the Firebird.
For a complete schedule of events click onto www.silverskatefestival.org.
