Beads, costumes and music, oh my. Mardi Gras, you
’re not in New Orleans anymore. It won’t be the same old
mushroom fair at the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras this year
which will bring a family-friendly twist on a New Orleans
special.
Beads, costumes and music, oh my. Mardi Gras, you’re not in New Orleans anymore.
It won’t be the same old mushroom fair at the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras this year which will bring a family-friendly twist on a New Orleans special.
“This will be more of a Mardi Gras theme,” said event director Sunday Minnich. “We will be selling beads, masks, boas and hats; it will be a hoping downtown.”
Entertainment will go on through out the day Saturday and Sunday featuring parades, stilt walkers, a New Orleans inspired stage show and wacky costumes.
But unlike the often wild party associated with Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Minnich said this will be a more tasteful festival.
“This is more of a family-style Mardi Gras,” Minnich said. “Clothing is required.”
Instead, colorful characters including an Austin Powers lookalike, an accordion playing clown and a juggling crawdad will parade through the downtown streets.
Jimbo the Clown will play traditional accordion music from around the world. Also he will perform circus clowning, dance, pantomime, juggling and hat tricks.
Finger-picking guitarist Robby Longley will play original contemporary, harmonies with complex rhythms that mesh jazz and pop. Longley will be playing for both days of the weekend festival on East Second Street.
A Mardi Gras king and queen will be selected, announced and paraded through the downtown. As the ride through downtown Morgan Hill, they will be handing out beads.
Festival-goers will be treated to strolling musicians as they browse through arts and crafts and gourmet food booths. And of course the wine and micro-brew beer tents will be up.
The children can play at “Munchkin Land” between Fifth Street and Dunne Avenue on Monterey Road filled with rides and games and entertainment with the little tots in mind.
