All Pawtucket All The Time

City’s annual Mardi Gras celebrations highlight active fun happening

Woonsocket, Rhode Island’s northern city, is bustling with excitement over the February 7-8 weekend, as the community offers a great combination of performing arts and ethnic entertainment in the Blackstone River Valley.

The featured attraction over the weekend is the popular annual Mardi Gras festivities presented by the Northern RI Council on the Arts (NRICA).

The 2009 celebration is being held Saturday, February 7, with separate Mardi Gras Balls for children and adults.

At 1:30 pm, The Children’s Ball is being held at Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs School, 1409 Park Avenue. There is free admission to this event!

Highlights of the Children’s Ball include a costume parade and contest with prizes awarded for best costume and most original costumes for boys and girls ages 1-6 & 7-12. The child “Mardi Gras King & Queen” will also be crowned.

More details on the Children’s Ball are available by calling 401-769-0520 extension 1311.

Later in the evening, from 6:30 pm-12 midnight, the Adult’s Mardi Gras Ball is being held at the CYO Center, 53 Federal Street.

Enjoy a great Cajun buffet presented by Fine Catering by Russell Morin, along with great themed concerts from the band Slippery Sneakers and special guests J.J. Caillier & The Zydeco Knockout Band of Louisiana.

Tickets for the Adult’s Ball are $25/advance and $30/door with the buffet included in the ticket price.

Woonsocket’s Mardi Gras celebrations were originated during the 1950’s. In 1995, NRICA revived the festivities with bringing an authentic feel of this traditional cultural happening.

Contact NRICA for festival details and tickets at 401-762-9072 or go online to the web at www.nrica.org

Meanwhile, Saturday night, February 7, at 8 pm, Stadium Theatre at Monument Square, in the city’s Arts & Entertainment District, offers the comedic antics of the outrageous Gallagher.

Known by audiences from his comedy appearances in the mid and late 1980’s, get ready for a smashing good time, as the comic is coming prepared with fresh material and his trademark “Sledge-O-Matic”, where front row patrons usually come prepared with raincoats, umbrellas or plastic sheeting to protect themselves from being soaked by the items projected from the stage.

 Show tickets are $26, $31 and $36. Reserve early for this fun and always unpredictable laugh out loud performance! Call the box office at 4011-762-4545 or visit the website www.stadiumntheatre.com