New Orleans isn’t the only town that knows how to celebrate Mardi Gras. Red River, New Mexico joins in the celebration with daily parades with colorful floats, krewes in costume tossing Mardi Gras beads, live Creole music, and spicy Cajun cooking February 16-21, 2012.
Annual events include a children's ball, day parade down Main Street, bead tosses at the ski area, drink-making contest, a grand costume ball, kid’s costume contest, cajun cook-off, burning of the wild Tchoupitoulas (yep, that's how you spell it), crawfish boils, downhill gator race, and more.
Red River welcomes back Al Berrard, Forest Huval and Bon Temps as featured entertainment. Straight from Louisiana, this group of fun-loving Cajuns will be playing at venues all over Red River during Mardi Gras.
Each of Red River's seven krewes will be hosting a costume ball during Mardi Gras in the Mountains. During the balls each krewe chooses a king and queen to be honored for the evening, presiding over the fun and frivolity for the night. The Grand Ball Saturday night also includes a costume contest for both children and adults, so get creative when choosing your wardrobe for the week.
Mardi Gras kicks off Thursday night with the Burning of the Wild Tchoupitoula at the Motherlode Saloon. This annual tradition involves Red River guests and residents burning all of their bad "ju-ju" by writing negative thoughts on pieces of paper and throwing them into the fire as we burn a representation of the fictional Tchoupitoula.
Saturday afternoon make plans to be on Main Street for the annual Mardi Gras parade. Beads, candy, and even hot dogs are tossed along the one-mile parade route as Red River's krewes and businesses compete for recognition. Saturday evening brings the Torchlight Parade and Fireworks, followed by Ed Iver's Bonfire, both at the Lift House. This all leads up to the Grand Ball at the Ski Area's Main Chalet, complete with Cajun music, the costume contest, free tubing, and more.
Sunday bring your children to the Black Mountain Playhouse for the Children's Ball, hosted by the Krewe des Jeunes and the Krewe de Colores. Red River's youngest krewe invites kids of all ages for music, candy, pizza, roller-skating and games. Costumes encouraged!
It's worth staying until Fat Tuesday for the Cajun Cook-off at the Motherlode Saloon. Participate or just sample different bayou-inspired dishes as Cajun aficionados compete for cash prizes.
For you RVers, check into the Red River RV Park and Retreat. They have large RV sites with full hook-up with 30 and 50 amps and cable TV. If you love trout fishing, ask for a site that is on the river. You can step out of your RV and fish in a flash!
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