Main Street Plans Mardi Gras Fundraiser

Opting for a new kind of celebratory fundraiser this year, New London Main Street will be holding a Mardi Gras event this year.

The Mardis Gras Masquerade Ball will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the . Tracy Tremblay, promotions coordinator with New London Main Street, says the organization does only one major fundraiser each year. Though this formerly was a Valentine’s Day event, it was changed this year since it was starting to grow too big and the organization did not want to take business away from downtown restaurants.

“This year we wanted to do something a little different,” said Tremblay.

The main feature of the evening will be dance music performed by Planet Zydeco. Though the group’s members hail from different parts of New England, they’ll be playing the accordion, rubboard, and guitars to play the folk music popular in Louisiana.

Local restaurants will also be trying their hand at Cajun dishes. Tremblay said these include jambalaya from , crawfish from , chicken etouffe from , chicken and sausage gumbo from , and Cajun shrimp and cornbread from .

Though costumes are optional, they are strongly encouraged. Mardi Gras masks are currently on sale at , and any stock left over will be sold at the event. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes.

The event will also include a live auction, with items including a trip to Sicily and a sunset lobster cruise. About six items will be auctioned off in this way, with several other goods to be sold off in a silent auction.

Tickets are $40 per person or $75 per couple.