Mardi Gras love in LA
Los Angeles has its Mardi Gras spirit though not on the magnificent level of New Orleans, Louisiana, but it's here in places. The purple, green, and gold decorations are hanging in our local Cajun/Creole restaurants and other businesses. A big red blowup crawdad/crawfish/mudbug is floating in front of one of the restaurants nearby. Also, the fleur-de-lis, plastic beads, brass bands, and masquerade masks are making the rounds. In the past, I've even seen Second Line dancing in the Los Angeles Korean Parade and Kingdom Day Parade, so we have our bit of Mardi Gras and New Orleans culture in California.
Line up puppies
Today, however, was all about dogs with attitude and style celebrating Mardi Gras, vying for titles, and free swag. The 13th Annual Mutti-Gras Parade (February 22, 2020) held on the plaza of the Farmer's Market at 3rd and Fairfax in LA was sponsored by The Dog Bakery. Dogs with piano playing talents, long locks, and custom-designed threads competed to be the next king and queen.
It seems events like these often have a parade followed by a competition, which means, a MC is a must. The dog contest MCs really have a lot to handle. It's not all puppy kisses. They must be ready to joke, wrangle, and even take a finger nip for the team.
No Mardi Gras without food and music
This Mutti Gras parade happens at the Original Farmer's Market, which is in its 31st year for celebrating Mardi Gras. During this special weekend of Feb 22nd, 23rd, and 25th, there is New Orlean's style music and The Gumbo Pot serving up its Louisiana dishes as always. So if you're in LA, wishing you were in New Orleans, you can still have your jambalaya, gumbo, king cake, beignets, chicory coffee, and some seasonal gator gumbo.
