ATHENS-Athens Arts League will bring the beats, the beads, the buggies and the bounty for its annual Mardi
Gras celebration in Downtown Athens on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
There will be live music, beads to toss and a food drive as part of the festivities. This year’s theme is
“Let the Good Cans Roll.”
The Mardi Gras event’s iconic component is the Parade with a Purpose that encourages canned food
donations. As a quirky tribute to this food drive, many parade participants decorate buggies donated
by Lowe’s to create small floats on wheels. This promotes donations of canned goods at Athens City
Hall and other locations in the city, which provides a bounty of food for Community Table (formerly
known as LCCI).
“As a non-profit, our board knows the importance of community collaboration and community
celebration,” Athens Arts League Board President Jennifer Hilton Sampieri said. “Our Mardi Gras
event unites us with fellow non-profits, our City, local businesses and organizations for a night of fun
and philanthropy.”
Last year’s efforts secured over $3,000 worth of food for Community Table’s food bank.
“We consistently feed the community in a number of ways,” said Athens Arts League Board member
and Mardi Gras Committee Co-Chair Gail Bergeron. “We feed the need to create and experience what
others create, and we do that with our art and music programs. We feed the need to come together
as a community to celebrate the best in all of us, and we do that with family-friendly events. We feed
the need some families have to provide food on their tables, and we do that with our Mardi Gras
Parade with a Purpose. I’m blessed to work with amazing people who embrace this.”
In addition to beats, beads, buggies and the bounty, Tuesday’s Mardi Gras hoopla will incorporate
feeding the need to create by including a free mask-making session for children in the City Hall foyer.
This will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Volunteers from the Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission will help children
decorate their Mardi Gras masks with jewels, feathers and stickers.
Here is the rest of the Mardi Gras happenings:
The Beats
The live music will start at 5 p.m. on the steps of the Limestone County Courthouse on Market Street,
with a performance by Tubano Thunder. This is a drumming circle funded by Athens Arts League for
children at the Boys and Girls Club. The Calhoun Community College Show Band with Matt Leder will
then perform on the steps on Marion Street from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Food trucks Taste of Maine, Baw Baw’s BBQ and Happi Pappi will set up on Marion Street near the
Courthouse. The Girl Scouts will have a booth to sell cookies, and the Sugar and Ice drink truck will set
up as well.
Athens Arts League encourages attendees to also dine and shop with downtown merchants before
and after the parade.
The Beads and Buggies
Parade line-up will start at 5:30 p.m. on Marion Street by Athens City Hall. Judging of buggies, golf
carts and first-responder entries will start at 6 p.m.
The parade will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Marion Street by City Hall and go south on Marion Street to
The Square, circle The Square, and go back to City Hall.
Parade participants will toss beads, Moon Pies and other items. Participants include buggy floats,
decorated golf carts, the West Limestone Marching Band, Rocket City Starlets, Girl Scouts, Lions Club
train, dance teams, Sally the City Hall Pup and more.
The Bounty
Citizens can drop off canned goods at Athens City Hall through Feb. 17. Innovative Reality, Hydration
Lounge, TNT Fireworks and TLC Pediatrics are also drop off locations.
