The 28th edition of the Red River Mardi Gras in the Mountains is set for February 28-March 5, and the 2019 observance of Carnevale promises to bring more fun, food and frivolity to the winter wonderland of Red River!
The mystical krewes have been working since the last Mardi Gras concluded. They have been discussing and dissecting the various aspects of the last year’s Fat Tuesday extravaganza with an eye to making this year’s observance more special for the thousands of visitors who will be in town for The Party. It’s Carnival time!
These secret (and not-so-secret) organizations are the backbone of activities and events, including the nightly Grand Balls and costume contests. Recent krewes have included Krewe de Voodoo, Krewe de los Muertos (Krewe of the Dead), Pirate Krewe, Krewe de Jacawitz (an International Krewe from Brazil, Peru and Chile), Party Krewe, Krewe de Rouge and the Cowboy Krewe, which makes an annual winter trek from the windswept plains of Texas.
Krewes are also responsible for choosing a nightly King and Queen who will be given the honor of overseeing that particular ball, wearing the robes and crowns of royalty and leading the Grand March that sets the tone for the evening’s festivities.
It is also the krewes, through the Red River Chamber of Commerce Mardi Gras Committee, that are charged with electing REX, Royal Overseer of all aspects of Mardi Gras in the Mountains.
The Red River Chamber of Commerce originated Mardi Gras in the Mountains in1992 and has conducted it every year since to the delight of visitors and locals alike.
At one point, Mardi Gras in the Mountains was chosen as the Number One Tourist Event in the State of New Mexico, selected by the Office of NM Tourism over such events as the International Balloon Fiesta and The Gathering of Nations, both huge annual events held in Albuquerque which draw large crowds.
The Mardi Gras season begins on January 6, a date known throughout the world as Epiphany, Three Kings Day, or the Twelfth Day of Christmas. That day sees the first party of the MG season, the Epiphany Party, complete with Cajun and Creole food and the first appearance of the King Cake, with a toy baby inside. Whoever gets the baby in their piece of cake has to host the next party! The event is held as a heads-up that Mardi Gras is coming.
Mardi Gras in French means “Fat Tuesday” and the date varies. Mardi Gras is usually 47 days before Easter. This year Easter is on April 21 so Fat Tuesday is March 5th. How that happened is a Church thing – ask the Archbishop of Constantinople. Mardi Gras is a religious event, as witnessed by Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent which follows the Carnevale, which means “Farewell to the Flesh!”
