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Arts & Entertainment

Festivities Begin With Children's Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras 2011 kicks off with the annual Children's Mardi Gras Celebration.

No Mardi Gras celebration is complete without some baubles, beads and wild and crazy costumes.

Mardi Gras 2011 began on Saturday with the annual Children's Mardi Gras celebration held at the Museum of Work and Culture. Sponsored by Catholic Financial Life, Chapter 2, and Saint Jean the Baptist, this free event was open to children ages 4-9. Fifteen area youth lit up the museum in full glitz and glam ready to enjoy an afternoon of food, fun and friends.

Upon arrival, children received bags filled with Mardi Gras beads and other goodies as well as a very important raffle ticket which would later determine the King and Queen of Children's Mardi Gras. Musical entertainment provided by 2010 Mardi Gras Queen, Linda Trudeau entertained the crowd with children and adults alike singing and dancing to classic childrens' favorites such as 'The Hokey Pokey' and 'If You're Happy and You Know It.' Even the reigning Mardi Gras Queen, Amanda Corriveault and Princess, Kali Darling, could be found cutting a rug with the children to the appropriate tune, "Dancing Queen."

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Paul Plant, Chairperson and Vice President of Chapter 2, crowned the King and Queen of the children's Mardi Gras, chosen by raffle.  Justyn Lopez and Gabriella Fontaine, both of Woonsocket, won the honors.

"It feels good to be King " said Justyn, "but I won't go mad with power." 

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Justyn also explained, "I just can't believe it, I only came here today because I was helping a friend look for her lost cat then her Mom invited me along." 

Along side the King, grinning from ear to ear, Queen Gabriella Fontaine said, "On the way here I kept telling my dad I wanna be the Queen, I wanna be the Queen and then they actually picked me, I cant believe I'm going to be famous almost!" 

The King and Queen each recived $10 gift cards to Burger King.

Next the children were invited to parade around in their costumes as judges, Linda Trudeau, 2010 Mardi Gras Queen, Amanda Corriveault, reigning Queen, and Donna Aguilere, Chapter 2 member, cast their votes for most original costume and best overall costume.

"Everyone had at least one vote so you are all winners here today," said Trudeau as she announced the four winners. For most original costume, the winners were 8 year old Jessy Cecconi and 8 year old PJ Higgins. Best overall costume went to 3 year old Maddison McGourty and 5 year old Colin Decelles.  All four children, who were Woonsocket residents, received a $5 Gift card to Burger King.

A special guest, Paws, the Pawtucket Red Sox Mascot, was on hand to sign autographs, take pictures and even dance a jig or two. While guests feasted on cookies, popcorn and macaroni and cheese, all donated by Gerry McLaughlin, the mysterious monarch himself, King Jace, made a very special appearance. In his traditional manner of honking once for yes and twice for no, the King answered some questions from the crowd.

"Do you like Mardi Gras?" asked 8 year old Mia Douglas, to which he responded with one honk.

Nine year old Liz Ferrenti stumped the King when she asked, "Do you know the 3 colors of Mardi Gras?" 

Liz enlightened the group to the correct answer: green, purple and gold.

The event wrapped up with a raffle where every child in attendance was able to choose a prize from a table overflowing with books and toys provided by Catholic Financial Life, Chapter 2, Saint Jean the Baptist. Children also received a giant coloring and activity book with crayons as they left the building.

When asked what the best part of the day was, PJ Higgins said, "meeting the King Jace, I got to sit right next to him, it was the coolest thing ever." One can only hope that this event will instill a sense of community and pride in our children and inspire them to carry on  the age old  tradition of  Mardi Gras in Woonsocket.

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