Groovy times had by all at the 02.14.15 Venice Beach Mardi Gras Parade. This annual event is hosted by Miss Jessica and the The Gumbo Brothers . View 2015 Venice Beach Mardi Gras Parade event photo highlights below by Venice Paparazzi. This year’s 2015 Mardi Gras photos sponsored by Venice Breeze Suites.
In this photo: 2015 Venice Beach Mardi Gras Queen Michelle Van Vlie & King Marc William Sloan.
A little Venice History: Following insert by Jeffrey Stanton.
“Venice held its first annual Mardi Gras Festival August 16-18, 1935. The three day event featuring parades, costumes, contests and entertainment, was modeled after the New Orleans event.
It began with the arrival of King Neptune in an outrigger canoe followed by Queen Venetia’s coronation and a royal procession along Ocean Front Walk. The queen read a proclamation commanding her subjects to engage in three days of fun and frivolity. The afternoon parade featured floats and costumed merrymakers wearing enormous plaster of paris heads that were manufactured in Arthur Reese’s studio. Windward Avenue was roped off for a street carnival where wandering gondoliers entertained. The parade included Keystone Cops and people wearing enormous plaster of paris head gear. The king and queen’s float along Venice’s Ocean Front Walk. – 1938. There was an afternoon treasure hunt for children and an evening program of aquatic events on Saturday. Sunday’s Miss California beauty pageant drew huge crowds, and a Mardi Gras Ball in the evening capped the celebration. The Mardi Gras Festival became an annual event of considerable importance prior to World War II. It became bigger and better each succeeding year and civic pride improved. By 1941 five hundred thousand people attended the expanded four day event in its final year. For more history on Venice, visit Jeffrey Stanton’s website , or purchase his book “Venice California-The Cooney Island of the Pacific“.
Thanks to Miss Jessica and the Gumbo Brothers for keeping the Venice Beach Mardi Gras Parade tradition alive for the last 14 years!
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2015 Mardi Gras event photo highlights!
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Miss Jessica of Sugar Shack Attach leads the 2015 Venice Beach Mardi Gras Parade on the Venice Beach Boardwalk.
View all 300+ Mardi Gras photos here!
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Thank you to Venice Breeze Suites for sponsoring this year’s Mardi Gras pics!
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About Venice Breeze Suites: Situated directly on the famous Venice Beach and Boardwalk, Venice Breeze Suites offers a combination of luxurious, yet relaxed, beach living, extended-stay amenities and an assortment of home-like conveniences all designed to fit modern lifestyles. The Venice Breeze Suites offers guests a new level of comfort with gourmet kitchens, modern furnishings, complimentary Wi-Fi, a rooftop deck with incredible ocean views and a choice ocean view suites with a range of floor plans. Air conditioned with exposed brick walls and glass tile. www.venicebreezesuites.com
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Every 1st Wednesday of the month! Live performance by Miss Jessica and the Sugar Shack Attack at Danny’s Venice 7-10 p.m. Free Admission. 23 Windward Ave, Venice, CA 90291
