Mardi Gras, The Big Event, and Paint The Town

, the organization behind This Week in New London, is holding one of their biggest fundraisers this week. At 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Elks Lodge, the will bring in delicious creole food, music by Planet Zydeco, silent auction items, and fabulous costumes. Prizes are awarded for the best masks and one couple will be crowned king and queen. Tickets are $40 or $75 for two.

That’s not the only big event happening in the next week; in fact, the is happening the same evening. This brings a pasta dinner, a ventriloquist, a jester, and other family friendly entertainment to Port N Starboard at for an evening of fun. It starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday, and tickets are $5 for New London residents and $10 for non-residents; children under three get in for free.

It’s also a busy week for the . Executive director Steve Sigel and marketing director Jeanne Sigel will be honored by the Kiwanis Club on Sunday. They’ll receive the club’s with a 5 p.m. dinner and reception at the Alumni Center; the cost is $50 per person, and you can reserve a spot by mailing a check to the Kiwanis Club of New London, PO Box 333, New London, CT 06320. Meanwhile, the Garde keeps up its regular Winter Film Festival with showings of at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, and at 3 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Admission to each show is $4.

There are a few opportunities to help out the community among the organization’s picks. Mayor Daryl Finizio’s public meeting schedule continues tonight with a topic of ; this starts at 5 p.m. at . “Paint the Town,” a group looking to spruce up New London prior to OpSail 2012, holds a regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday at .

Finally, there are a few musical opportunities in the coming days beyond the events already listed. Wilson Kane performs from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. tonight at The Commoner. hosts Brown Bird and Daphne Lee Martin & Raise the Rent at 9 p.m. on Saturday; the cost for this 21 and over show is $5. welcomes Sunny Morning LaLa for their regular performance at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Also happening this week:

• Neighborhood Chef’s Table, 6 p.m. tonight at Dev’s On Bank Street; $55 gets a table and meal in the kitchen
• High School open skate, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. tonight at the Rink on Parade Plaza
• Weekly wine tasting, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday at
• Natural Health Practitioners open house, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at 165 State Street
• “Art of the Ask” seminar with Harriet Grayson, 9 a.m. to noon on Monday at the Custom House Maritime Museum; $65
• Middle school open skate, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday at the Rink at Parade Plaza

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.