The Northern Rhode Island Council of the Arts has announced the names of the contestants for the Mardi Gras Queen, who will reign over the city's 2011 celebration this February.

The Queen contest is the Council's biggest fund-raiser for the annual event and with contestants selling $1 raffle tickets for a chance to be crowned Mardi Gras Queen, and get not only bragging rights, but the chance to represent the city in the unique cultural event. There are 10 contestants this year competing for the Queen Crown but only one will be Queen with the two succeeding runners up chosen as Princesses of the court. All raffle tickets sold will be entered into a drawing for prizes and giveaways - many of which are yet to be decided. 

The celebration will be held on Saturday, Feb. 26 and parallels the New Orleans Mardi Gras, in which the residents celebrate their French Canadian ancestry. The traditional celebration began in 1954 as a week long event that drew folks from all over New England. Those were the days before Walnut Hill, when most of the Wooonsocket businesses - establishments like Woolworths and WT Grant's - were all located on Main Street or in the downtown area.

The early Mardi Gras celebrations included a huge parade through the city's downtown area, a succession of balls, music, parties, dancing and food. As the years went by the Mardi Gras dwindled out, only to be resurrected again in 1995 by the NRICA Director Jack Lawhead.

From 1995 to 2005, the Mardi Gras became popular once again.  Although the parade was a thing of the past,  the council concentrated its efforts on the night's festivities that would be held at anywhere from 3 to 5 venues. The bands and menus chosen for the event differed at each venue. The tickets allowed the patron dinner at one venue, and the option of taking a shuttle to the remaining venues in order to join in the rest of the night's festivities.  The menu consisted of cajun and creole foods, and the music was provided by one band brought in from Louisiana and several local bands, all of whom played french influenced Zydeco music - a blend of French melodies and Caribbean music.  

According to Marlene Gagnon, owner of Harlequinn Costumes on Main Street, the past few Mardi Gras have been difficult to maintain.  The queens for 2007 and 2008 were chosen by the mystery "King" due to a lack of contestants. The venues were harder to obtain due to lack of funds, thereby forcing the council to choose only one, main venue. Economic difficulties over the past two to three years has nearly cost Woonsocket one of it's dearest traditions.

This year, however, thanks to the NRICA, the volunteers who sit on the Mardi Gras Board, people of the community and the Queen contestants themselves, interest in the annual Mardi Gras has been revived. Gagnon has been on the board of the NRICA since 1995 and remains very much involved in the Mardi Gras celebration. Acting as secretary, she has helped, through word of mouth, to rustle up this year's contestants for the Queen of the Mardi Gras Ball. "There's always a Mardi Gras Queen. In 2004, we brought in almost $10,000 dollars in ticket sales from all the girls.  This is what keeps the Mardi Gras going," Gagnon said. 

Aside from the raffle tickets, the committee is attempting to raise funds through donations from local businesses, fundraisers, and the "King Jace Contest" - a contest in which folks must pay a dollar and take a guess as to whom the Woonsocket "Mystery Man" is.  Dave Richards, owner and host of WOON Radio in Woonsocket, has already chosen this year's Mystery Man - or King of the Ball- and will begin publishing clues prior to the event.  Meanwhile, residents should be on the lookout for the Mystery Man in downtown Woonsocket, who will help to offer clues by traipsing through the city in disguise on any given day. The guesses must be sealed in an envelope with a dollar and dropped off at one of the chosen outlets. All correct answers will be entered into a raffle, to be chosen at the end of the Ball.   

This year's contestants consist of 10 Woonsocket residents, who were all together for the first time last night at Judith Potter Photography. And just who are this year's contestants? The list includes 10 women from all over the city.

Without further ado, the contestants for the 2011 Mardi Gras Queen are: Sarah Gauvin, Michelle Tessier, Brenna McCabe, Amanda Corriveault, Tina Rivard, Elizabeth Valeika, Kali Darling, Jaime Nunes, Angela Rondeau and Courtney Paquin.

One of the nine contestants, Sarah Gauvin, part owner of The Cakery on Main Street said that she is excited to take part in the Queen Contest, and eager to help in bringing back to life a part of Woonsocket's rich, cultural history.

"I'm French. The city has a French background and Mardi Gras has become near and dear to Woonsocket. I'd like to see it stay around," Gauvin said.

Gauvin and her family are long time residents of Woonsocket. Her great grandparents founded Soucy Insurance Agency on Rathbun Street in 1914. "I've always worked in the family business. I have a lot of relatives around here. Some folks say that nearly half my customers are members of my own family," Gauvin said with a laugh.

Upon entering the contest, Gauvin was given 2,000 raffle tickets, which she bagan selling in her store shortly after Christmas.  "I ask my regular customers to buy one, and I also have a few friends helping me. You're allowed to have a ' team ' help sell tickets for you," she said. "I would love to win.  I'm certainly gonna give it my all, but I'm not too good at harassing people. And I won't be upset if I lose."

With the economy how it is, funds are scarce, there will be just one venue this year for Mardi Gras (though the board has high hopes of bringing back the days of three to four venues). The ball will take place at the CYO Center, 53 Federal St. The catering will be done by Gary McLaughlin, and as always will consist of a Cajun menu. The bands include one local Zydeco act "Slippery Sneakers", and Louisiana's "Lil Waynes & Same Ol' Two Step."  Ladies are encouraged to dress in costume, and men in disguise.  There will be music,dancing, buffet, contests, and prizes.

Tickets to attend the Mardi Gras can be purchased through Lorraine Cloutier, 762-9072 and are $25.00 in advance and $30.00 at the door.

This year's Mardi Gras Chairperson is Romeo Berthiaume, host of the Saturday Morning Show on WOON Radio; Secretary of the event is Marlene Gagnon; and Queen Committee Chairperson is Jeannette Cousineau.