3rd Annual Mardi Gras Parade and "A Taste of New Orleans" Celebration!

THIS WEEKEND!

 The 3^rd Annual Main Street Mardi Gras parade is Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 5 p.m. in the Palestine Main Street District.

This year the Main Street District will also host a pre-parade A Taste of New Orleans celebration from 1 – 5 p.m. which features the family-fun you’ve come to expect from the district. Louisiana-style cuisine prepared by local chefs and paired with local wineries will happen each hour, children’s activities, art and more will fill the shops and streets before brightly colored New Orleans-style floats roll by.

The Main Street program and The Friends of Main Street joined forces with the Mystics of Time Mardi Gras Krewe to host the parade and celebration. “The continuing goal of the event is to offer a memorable family-time that draws people locally and from surrounding areas to our wonderful downtown,” said Jean Mollard, President of the Main Street Board for the City of Palestine. 

A Taste of New Orleans opens the festivities at 1 p.m. and showcases locals chef offering free food demonstrations which are paired with a wine tasting from a local winery each hour until the parade.

• 1 p.m. Chef Jack Kraatz, Bella Sera Ranch, paired with Texas Vineyard and Smokehaus.

Chef Jack is self-taught in the culinary arts after his interest in cooking began as a young man. As the Executive Chef at Bella Sera Ranch, he has created a diverse menu that specializes in Italian sauces, Texas smokehouse and southern-style cooking. He will demonstrate his favorite appetizers Savannah Shrimp, Crab Cakes and Jalapeno Poppers.

Demo located inside Lee Loveless Photography, 101 W. Oak.

• 2 p.m. Chef Simon Webster, Sabor a Pasión, and Chef Christine Gardner, food editor Tyler Morning Telegraph, paired with Granny Muffin Wines.

Chef Simon Webster is the owner and chef at Sabor a Pasión Country House & Bistro. He was born in England and raised in New Zealand where he was classically trained at the New Zealand Culinary Institute through the City & Guilds of London. His experience spans 40 years. In 2004, he opened Sabor a Pasión, creating a restaurant, bed & breakfast, event center, wedding venue, catering headquarters and vineyard.

Christine Gardner, Tyler Morning Telegraph Food Editor, writes feature stories and recipes for the Tyler Paper FLAVOR section which is published every Wednesday. She also appears on

KYTX-CBS19 every Tuesday demonstrating recipes on FRESH Ideas sponsored by FRESH by Brookshire's. She has degrees in Journalism from Texas A&M & Culinary Arts from Le Cordon Bleu. As part of her culinary studies she apprenticed in Sorrento, Italy.

Chef Simon will prepare sausage and shrimp jambalaya and Chef Gardner will prepare mocktails.

Demo located inside Granny Muffin Wines, 301 W. Oak.

• 3 p.m. Lulu Dyess, Fork in the Road, paired with Sweet Dreams Winery.

Lulu Dyess was born and raised in Palestine and has always had a knack for adventure. From her forays at St. Edward's University to Austin's live music scene to film festivals in Marfa, one cannot describe Lulu as "stationary," which is the inspiration for her new adventure, Fork In The Road, an innovative food truck. With her business partner, UT graduate and fashion-stylist, Hunter Lohse, these two former Austinites are touring East Texas in a food truck serving up dreams, art, community, and most importantly: TACOS! Lulu will be preparing herNola Red Dreams & Rice.

Demo located inside Lee Loveless Photography, 101 W. Oak.

Downtown shops will be offering Mardi Gras specials inside their stores, just look for the green, gold and purple window decorations which means there is something special inside. Some of the specials you can expect are 20% off any one item at Duncan Depot, 25% off any one item at Le’Fashion when you say “Let the Good Times Roll”, 50-60% off select items at the Co-ed Shop, and Mardi Gras music at Oxbow Bakery and Old Magnolia. Maps with details will be available Jan. 25 at many locations downtown.

“We encourage people to make an afternoon of it and enjoy everything Main Street has to offer. The entire Board is excited to join the Mystics of Time and all the other local organizations that make the event so much fun,” said Laura Westgate, Main Street Manager. “The Main Street Mardi Gras Parade and Celebration is an annual event of the Main Street Board and they look forward to it every year.”

In addition to the sales, various businesses will host an artist or activity. Participating artists include a face-painter and a silhouette artist who are donating their services. There will also be a caricature artist that features both black and white and color sketches. A donation was made of art supplies to allow children an opportunity to cut and color a mask for the parade.

A highlight for the Main Street District 2013 parade will be the inclusion of live music during the parade provided by Dave Washburn’s Three-Quarter Fast Jazz Band and Bruce Flett’s Rhythm Section Band, and returning for another appearance is the Espuelas de Plata mariachi band.

The parade will start at the Anderson County Courthouse, proceed down Avenue A to West Oak and make its way through the Main Street District to the Visitor Center.

For more information regarding the Mardi Gras Parade and Celebration visit www.facebook.com/palestinemainstreet or call the Visitors Center at 903-723-3014.

Last year's PARADE PICTURES!

All photos taken by Stuart Whitaker.