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Mardi Gras 2009 celebrations

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It's Mardi Gras, ya'll!

By Kathy Hanrahan

Posted: February 24, 2009

To bring a little bit of Mardi Gras to North Carolina, I brought in an authentic King Cake with pecan and praline filling and beads to the WRAL newsroom today.

You may have even seen meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner wearing a pair of beads during her noon weather forecast.

I don't get back for carnival much, but a few years ago my husband and I made the trip and spent the day with family. We saw the Krewe of Orpheus, with founder Harry Connick Jr., on Lundi Gras (the day before Mardi Gras) roll down St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans.

We spent Mardi Gras day in Metairie (a suburb of New Orleans) watching parades all day. Metairie is traditionally more of a family-oriented celebration – a lot less wild than Bourbon Street!

Costumes are also a big deal during Mardi Gras. As a child, my family would dress me up and bring me to the parades. I was Disco Daisy Duck one year - complete with a headpiece with giant eyes!

Has anyone else been to carnival in New Orleans or anywhere else?

4 Comments

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What parades did you see? Did you spend the day on Bourbon Street?

Khanrahan
February 25, 2009 11:28 a.m.

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I just got back from mardi Gras (1st time) I had a blast, I want to go back next year!

LoveSomeGolo
February 24, 2009 5:12 p.m.

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AppState, I just order mine from Haydel's in New Orleans! I can't even imagine trying to bake one.

Khanrahan
February 24, 2009 2:31 p.m.

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I love Mardi Gras, but finding a King Cake this year has been fruitless. All the places I've gone in the past had none this year. I'll have to improvise one tonight. Now, where did I put that plastic baby?

AppStateForever
February 24, 2009 2:12 p.m.

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