Mardi Gras Returns to Shoreline Village

Collin James
MARDI GRAS King Brian Addison, Queen Jeanin Pearce and Debra Fixen

Fat Tuesday falls on a Saturday in Long Beach, and this year the festivities are expected to be “fatter” than ever before. The Shoreline Village will host its annual Mardi Gras Parade and Festival on Feb. 25.

The parade will start at 3 p.m. and march from the Aquarium of the Pacific, down to Rainbow Lagoon before terminating at the Shoreline Village, where additional New Orleans -themed festivities await.

The parade will feature stilt walkers, masqueraders and live jazz and zydeco performances.

Although paraders will be passing out as many as 4,000 beads, the event is expected to be a “family-friendly alternative to the more traditionally risqué and adult-oriented annual tradition,” according to a press release. Event organizers are expecting this year’s turnout to be the biggest ever.

This year’s Mardi Gras will be honoring local journalist Brian Addison and Long Beach City Councilwoman Jeanine Pearce as the king and queen of the parade. Pearce and Addison were chosen for their contributions to the community.

Addison is a distinguished journalist for the Long Beach Post and Longbeachize. He is the winner of the Los Angeles Press Club’s Online Journalist Award for 2015. Addison is an avid writer and blogger who focuses on issues and culture in Long Beach.

Pearce is the newest member of the Long Beach City Council who won the Second District seat last June in a tight race. She graduated with honors from California State University, Long Beach in 2009 with a degree in sociology. She has also been awarded previously in LB Post’s “40 under 40” award in 2013 and the “Go Long Beach” award in 2014. The Shoreline Village is included in Pearce’s Second District.

Businesses at the Shoreline Village will be offering Cajun themed food and drink specials all day.

Sponsors for the parade include the Port of Long Beach, H&R Block and the Current Hotel. Admission is free and all ages are welcome to watch or register for the parade.

collin@beachcomber.news

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