Let the Good Times Roll in Downtown Decatur Twelfth Annual Carnegie Carnival Set for February 18

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A pirate ship float, a canine parade, live music and a whole lot of beads at the Carnegie Carnival's Mardi Gras celebration in Decatur this Saturday! - 256 Today DECATUR-North Alabama’s premier Mardi Gras style celebration will hit the streets of downtown Decatur February 18, 2023, when the Carnegie Visual Arts Center holds its annual Carnegie Carnival. Now in its twelfth year, Carnegie Carnival fills the city’s historic downtown area with parades, cakes, crewes, floats, throws, music and other family-friendly fun, all while promoting art and creativity. The event also serves as a fundraiser for the arts and other non-profits located in Decatur and Morgan County.

Carnegie Carnival gets underway at 7 a.m. on Feb. 18 with the Carnival Frolic, with a 13.1-mile race, relay team and 5k through the historic districts, along the Tennessee River and through Point Mallard Park. To register, visit the Carnival Frolic Run signup page. Beginning at 11 a.m. grab a quick bite from the Carnival Street Eats food truck court located in the Bank Independent parking lot. Enjoy delicious NOLA style beignets from Happi Pappi, wood-fired pizza from Brix and Embers, gourmet wings from Just Wing It and more.

At 12:00 p.m., kids of all ages will want to make their way to the Decatur Morgan County Farmers Market on 1st Avenue for carnival-style games and prizes at the Carnival Midway sponsored by Mosaic Mentoring. Each activity is one coin. Coins may be purchased on site, 10 coins for $5 or 25 coins for $10. The Carnegie Carnival Creation Station will be offering free hands-on art projects for kids. Sponsored by Kiwanis of Decatur, the Creation Station will also be located at the Farmers Market by the Carnival Midway games.

Take a break from the day’s activities with Mardi Grass, good food and drink paired with live Mardi Gras music at The Brick. Bands begin at 12:00 p.m. and go on through the nighttime parade. This event is suitable for the whole family during food service hours and is free to attend plus the cost of food and/or drinks.

The Carnival Prince and Princess Parade gets underway at 12:30 p.m. Watch local children and teens parade via foot, bike and float starting at Founders Park at the corner of Bank Street and Church Street to 2nd Avenue and ending at the Farmer’s Market on 1st Avenue. The Coronation for the Prince and Princess will be held at 2 p.m. at the Princess Theatre.

At 2:30 p.m., dogs of all sizes and breeds, dressed in their Mardi Gras best, will take to the streets of historic downtown Decatur for a colorful pooch parade and dog walk. The parade begins at the lawn of the Alabama Center for the Arts, goes to Johnston Street, turns and ends where it started. The event is free to attend. Parade registration is $10 + $5 for each additional dog.

Following the dog parade, head back to the Princess Theatre at 3:00 p.m. for a free showing of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog.

About - Carnegie Carnival  The grand finale of the daylong event is the Carnegie Carnival Parade where crewes proceed in traditional Mardi Gras-style complete with themed floats, costumes, throws, and music. Set to hit the streets at 6 p.m., the parade route travels along Bank Street, Lee Street and 2nd Avenue.
Parade watchers are encouraged to arrive early to claim a spot for viewing. Coronation of King XII and Queen XII will be held at the Princess Theatre immediately following the parade.

During Carnegie Carnival, downtown restaurants and merchants will be open and festival goers can dine and shop for locally made and one-of-a-kind items. Festival organizers encourage parade goers to participate in the Catch and Release bead-recycling program. The Carnegie Visual Arts Center, in conjunction with the Decatur City Schools Developmental Program, collect and recycle thrown beads from previous Carnegie Carnival parades.

For anyone who wants to receive a free serving of cake, make plans to attend the Cake Shake set for Friday, Feb. 17 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Princess Theatre. Everyone is invited to join Queen Lindsey Faulkner, Queen Holly Whitt, King Doug Maze and King Wade Dinsmore in celebrating the carnival season with an evening of cakes galore, dancing along to the fantastic tunes of Lydia Britton and the Royal Family and a cash bar.

For more information, go to www.carnegiecarnival.org, follow Carnegie Carnival on Facebook and Instagram or call the Carnegie Visual Arts Center at 256.341.0562.

Media Release/ Danielle Gibson, President & CEO
Decatur Morgan County Tourism, Inc.

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