Florida Mardi Gras - New Orleans with a Tropical Twist

With its gorgeous floats and gala parades, non-stop parties and events, costumed bead-seeking revelers, Bourbon Street Jazz, and delicious New Orleans cuisine, it's the biggest Mardi Gras bash outside of New Orleans. It's "Mardi Gras Fiesta Tropicale "in Hollywood and Hollywood Beach Florida. The festivities run from February 1 through February 5, 2008.

Thousands of party goers from all throughout the country, along with entertainers, marching bands and popular chefs from New Orleans will be coming to Downtown Hollywood and "The Broadwalk" along picturesque Hollywood Beach for this authentic Mardi Gras celebration - the 11th annual for this beautiful oceanfront community. All public events in Mardi Gras are free.

With its distinctive blend of Art Deco and Old Florida architecture, Downtown Hollywood becomes Bourbon Street and the center of the gala parades and festivities. The partying starts just after sundown on Friday, February 1,with the Masquerade March and Costume Contest.

Starting at about 8:00 pm (I say about because it's South Florida Time), costumed revelers parade their way down Hollywood Boulevard to the sounds of Dixieland Jazz. The costumes are colorful, original and elaborate, rivaling any to be seen in any other Mardi Gras or "Carnivale" celebration. Adults, children and pets, local residents, "snowbirds" and even visitors who are only in town for the event participate in the Masquerade March. Registration to enter the parade and costume contest is free. Sign up at the main stage at Tyler and 20th.

After the parade, the partying continues in the restaurants, bars and clubs along Hollywood Boulevard, Harrison Street and around "The Circle"(Anniversary Park) at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and North Federal Highway. There will also be plenty of celebrations at the bars and cafes on the Broadwalk at Hollywood Beach, about two miles east on Hollywood Boulevard.

The event everybody loves most, the gala Float Parade, begins Saturday night, February 2, at 6 pm. With dozens of extravagant and elaborately decorated floats, marching bands from across the country, and costumed marchers, it's an extravaganza that matches any to be seen elsewhere - even in the "Big Easy".

Just like New Orleans, Hollywood has its Krewes or groups of local businesses, organizations or just neighbors that spend a good part of the year building and decorating their floats and planning the parties and other festivities that make Mardi Gras the gala celebration it is. Of course, they also ride the floats and throw almost a million beads and doubloons to parade watchers chanting "Throw me something, mister!"

The festivities "officially" ends at midnight, but the parties continue in the bars and cafes in Downtown Hollywood and on Hollywood Beach.

People start lining the parade route along Tyler and Harrison Streets beginning in the early to mid afternoon, so get there early to get your place. Be sure to bring sun tan lotion and bottled water, because things can get hot - even in February.

Live musical entertainment on the main stage in Downtown and in the band shell on Hollywood Beach will continue throughout the five days of Mardi Gras. Saturday night's entertainment features CB Pope's Dixieland Allstars, Marcel Anton, and Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots. Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots will also perform on Sunday.

Hollywood's Mardi Gras also has a special "Kids Quarter" in Anniversary Park at Hollywood Boulevard and 20th Avenue on Saturday and Sunday afternoon starting at noon and ending at about 6 pm.

Dubbed "The Kids Fiesta, activities in the "Kids Quarter" focus on getting children involved in the excitement of Mardi Gras. It features children's entertainers and musicians, games, interactive shows, contests, arts and crafts, prizes and more. One of the most popular activities is Mardi Gras mask making, where professionals teach children how to make their own Mardi Gras masks. Like all public Mardi Gras activities, it's free.

Sunday features another popular Mardi Gras tradition in Hollywood, the antique car show beginning at 10 am and ending at 3.

On Monday February 4, the center of the festivities focuses on Hollywood Beach, culminating with The Fat Tuesday Celebration the following night.

Hollywood Beach is one of America's most beautiful beaches. With over 5 miles of white sandy beach and a "Broadwalk" lined with restaurants, cafes, shops and activities, it's the ideal place to hold a celebration.

Starting at 6pm at the Hollywood Beach Band Shell at the Broadwalk and Johnson Street, Hot Java will provide a free concert featuring a unique medley of gospel and jazz that celebrates the history and culture of Mardi Gras and New Orleans. Special events and menus are featured at the dozens of restaurants and bars along the Broadwalk.

The Fat Tuesday celebration begins at noon on February 5 and ends at midnight when Lent officially begins. Non-stop musical entertainment will feature CB Pope's Dixieland Allstars, Marcel Anton and Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue. Musical entertainment is also scheduled at the main stage in Downtown Hollywood throughout the day.

Hot spots for Fat Tuesday party animals on Hollywood Beach include O'Malley's Bar and Mc Gowan's Bar both on the Broadwalk just north of Johnson Street. O'Malley's is a rocking sports bar on the ocean with music nightly, 7 giant TVs, the best drinks on the beach and a menu with everything from appetizers and burgers to fresh seafood and steaks. Mc Gowan's is a smaller watering hole and eatery attracting more of a local crowd. There's also Shucker's, an inexpensive bar and clam joint right on the beach.

Throughout the five days of the city's Mardi Gras celebration, incredible Creole, Cajun and Louisiana regional cuisine is available day and night just about everywhere. Local chefs who specialize in New Orleans style cooking, as well as guest chefs from the "Big Easy", always create a mouth-watering feast that can't be beat.

Their creations include traditional favorites such as Etouffee, Jambalaya, Gumbo, Shrimp Creole, Crab Cakes, Crawfish, Oysters, Fried Catfish, Bourbon Chicken, Alligator, Red Beans and Rice and of course Southern Fried Chicken and Po Boy Sandwiches.

Of course since it's a celebration "tropicale", you can also get great Latin, Caribbean cuisine as well as fresh seafood. Be sure to try our "fusion cuisine" and - an exotic blend of any two or more international cuisines. Popular favorites include "French Caribbean", "Caribbean Latin", "Japanese Chinese", "Cuban Asian", "Latin Mediterranean" or just almost any combination imaginable.

There's also Floribbean Cuisine - basically any food prepared with local ingredients including fresh fruits and spices and served in a uniquely South Florida way. You can enjoy both Floribbean and Fusion Cuisine at many restaurants in Downtown Hollywood and on Hollywood Beach.

Hotel accommodations along Hollywood Beach include motels, efficiency apartments and more stylish bed and breakfast style establishments to mid-size the Ramada and Marriott Hotels. All offer excellent oceanfront accommodations in the heart of Hollywood Beach. Keep in mind that Mardi Gras falls in the middle of peak tourist season so if you're planning to come in from out of town, make reservations as soon as possible.

There's also the Diplomat - a huge convention style hotel located at the very south tip of Hollywood Beach. It's big, expensive and far from where the center of activity, so it's not recommended - unless you've stayed there and enjoyed it or you have an affinity for convention hotels.

If you can't find or afford accommodations on Hollywood Beach, Hollywood's Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Stirling Road just West of I-95 has great accommodations, a concert venue, it's own shopping and entertainment complex and of course a casino. They usually have special package deals available. Be sure to check online reservation sources like Expedia or Travelocity before you contact the hotel directly.

Golden Beach and Sunny Isles Beach just south of Hollywood Beach also offer a variety of oceanfront accommodations you can choose from. Depending on traffic, they're usually just about a 10 minute ride from Hollywood Beach and Downtown Hollywood.

The Downtown Hollywood area is small and doesn't offer much in the way of hotel accommodations. There are inexpensive motels on Hollywood Boulevard west of downtown and on Federal Highway just North of Hollywood Boulevard. Their quality and ambiance leave a lot to be desired, so they're not recommended.

Marriott, Hilton, Best Western, Ramada, Holiday Inn and other well-known hotel chains all have nice hotels near Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale International Airport, only a 10 minute drive from the activities on the beach and in downtown. Usually, they offer some pretty good rates too, especially if you book at their online sites or through Expedia or Travelocity.

Hollywood strictly enforces DWI laws, so if you're drinking appoint a designated driver or take a cab. Shooting off fireworks during public celebrations can also get you a stiff fine and or land you in jail. Finally, if you're planning to go swimming in the ocean, be sure to check the flags at the lifeguard's stations to make sure there are no rip currents and it's safe to swim.

Times and events for all Mardi Gras activities are subject to change. For further information, call 954-926-3377. Happy Mardi Gras!