62nd Annual Loxton Mardi Gras Festival 2019 - 'Show Time'
Photos: The Loxton News photographer Stephanie Thompson, provided with permission from Loxton Mardi Gras Inc.
What: 62nd Annual Loxton Mardi Gras Festival 2019
When: Friday 22 - Sunday 24 February 2019
Friday 22 February 2019
Scouts SA Family BBQ at 6.30pm, Open Air Screening Family Film "Up" at the Rotunda East Tce Loxton, 7pm
Saturday 23 February 2019
Mardi Gras Family Festival Parade, Main Street Party and activities at Main Street, Loxton, 9am - 5pm
Including Nippy's Loxton Great Main-Street Downhill Underarm Orange Bowling Event 2019 at Loxton’s Main Street East Terrace - from the Council Chambers to the Hotel, noon
Sunday 24 February 2019
Loxton Mardi Gras Appreciation Service at Rotunda, East Tce Loxton, 8.30am
Who: Loxton Mardi Gras Inc.
62nd Annual Loxton Mardis Gras Festival and Family Festival Parade - Contributed by volunteer Meika Bottrill
Around 10 years ago Peter Magarey the current Loxton Parade coordinator, was standing and applauding the Mardi Gras parade when he heard that they were at risk of closing. He wanted to do something to help out and quickly realized the least he could do was attend their annual general meeting. What he thought would be a simple attendance, led him to leaving the volunteer committee as the chairman of the organization.
Mardi Gras Inc. began in 1958 as a fundraising opportunity in the town to raise money for an Olympic sized pool. Mardi Gras aims to improve social poise through their ambassador program and develop community experience through public speaking events. In addition to developing ambassador skills, the Mardi Gras is a public platform for organizations to raise funds for the community and themselves.
Now, ten years later, Peter is still flat out organizing their annual parade occurring on the last weekend of February.
The weekend is packed full of events, starting on Friday the 22nd with a free family screening of the Disney film Up. Partnering with Scouts SA, a large open air cinema will be provided free to the public in addition to a family BBQ.
On Saturday the 23rd of February, the Mardi Gras Inc. parade will be running with numerous floats participating. Starting at 9am, craft and food stalls will begin setting up and streets will come alive. The Riverland Brass Band will perform before the parade opening with Mayor Leon Stasinowksy and the Loxton Citizen of the Year 2019.
After the parade is finished, Nippy's Loxton’s Great Main-Street Downhill Underarm Orange Bowling Event will occur. This event consists of oranges being bowled downhill and into any of the orange boxes. This event aims to promote and improve town and regional knowledge of the agricultural industry within Loxton.
The Loxton Mardi Gras Appreciation Service, honoring the WWII Military Nurses and Victorian Cross recipients. commences on Sunday the 24th of February.
With a weekend that promises to be eventful, we encourage any locals or passerby’s to attend the Loxton Mardi Gras Inc. Parade.
