LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (February 17, 2012) - If you think you have to travel to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras, think again. Organizers with Southside Main Street (SoMa) are holding their own party this Saturday, February 18 right here in Little Rock.
The mission of SoMa is to promote and enhance economic development, public relations, historic integrity and quality of life for the citizens of the neighborhood.
The event will start at noon on South Main Street from 24th to 12th Street. Bring your own folding chairs and blankets to enjoy the parade.
Before, during, and after the parade there will be all sorts of activity on Main Street:
Oxford America will be having their open house at 1300 Main Street from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Join them to mix, mingle, and walk through their new facilities, and enjoy food, beverages, and music!
Piano Kraft will have live music played by Don Nichols from 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church will have a children's activity table along the parade route.
The Root Cafe will be serving chicken and sausage jambalya (meat from Falling Sky Farms and Cove Creek Acres) over Indian Bayou Farms brown jasmine rice for the Mardi Gras parade, along with Cajun iced tea. The Root Cafe will also be hosting a small outdoor local foods and urban garden expo from 10:30am to 2:30pm in the cafe parking lot, featuring several of their suppliers (Willow Springs Market Garden, Little Rock Urban Farming, Kent Walker Artisan Cheese) and other food and garden-related organizations (Arkansas Sustainability Network, Arkansas Native Plant Society, Delta Garden Project, Central Arkansas New Agrarian Society).
The Green Corner Store will have vendors selling their goods. There will be Curley Bob's sauce tasting, Valerie Goetz from Native Works will be providing an artist demonstration, artist Vanya Gilmore will do a simple craft with children, Etniq Mineral Makeup free costume makeup demos, and there will be Mountain Bird Pure Coffee samples. The store will also be passing out treats for your pooch.
USA Drug will have some activities for kids outside their store.
Ashley Ann's Event Planning is having special Mardi Gras Themed Window Decorations - think very cool!!
The Bernice Garden is having Rosen's Big Band (Rosen Music) from 12:00pm until 3:00pm and the Mockingbird Hillbilly Band from 3:00pm until 5:00pm. The Food Truck Little Rock and Hot Dog Mike will be out in the garden serving up hot sandwiches and hot dogs.
Boulevard Bread is dishing up a special Gumbo.
The Community Bakery is having sampler's of King Cakes.
And to top it off, SoMa will be selling beer and water at the Oxford America Parking lot.
Check out more info at www.southsidemain.org/events.html