History of Mardi Gras
History of Mardi Gras
How Ellicottville’s Iconic Parade Came to Be
The most frequent question about Ellicottville’s Mardi Gras Parade is that it’s in March, weeks after Shrove Tuesday and well into the season of Lent, yet it is called Mardi Gras, which is over. True, true, and true. The parade was so named because the weekend chosen is customarily Winter Carnival weekend on the ski slopes. The launch pad for the parade was in Jane Eshbaugh’s office at Holiday Valley. The decision was made to choose the HV Winter Carnival King and Queen in the village after the parade, so it seemed logical that we would name the parade after the hill that the Winter Carnival festivities traditionally were held on. Hence, Mardi Gras Parade!
Why nighttime? Again, there are so many ski-related events for visitors during the day that it only made sense to wait until folks could kick off the skis and head to town for something taking place in the evening. That way, people got the best of both worlds.
According to our Chamber of Commerce, the parade “is perhaps one of the most fun and zany events of the winter!” (Thank you, C of C, for sponsoring and managing this parade every year.) And remember our visitors are invited to participate in the event as well as our locals. Gather up a band of friends, choose a theme and a name, create zany costumes, and join the fun!
There are always surprises and the ever-present mystery of who will be selected by applause as the 2023 King and Queen of the parade. Their Highnesses will also have the honor of leading the parade on the slopes at Holiday Valley the following day. It seems fitting to pay homage to our long-time King of Mardi Gras, King Ken Brown, whose sparkling personality was accentuated by the lights he wore, the cape, the wild hat, the glitter that followed him like a sunny trail, the stilts, the gigantic gloves, the glitzy necklaces, his generosity, and his huge heart overbrimming with love for his adopted village, Ellicottville. Although he left us 11 years ago, his fun-loving spirit lives on. He left behind big boots to fill. Who will be our royal couple this year? Be sure to get to town for the event so you can participate in the selection at the gazebo at the end of the parade. Oh, yes, and bring a canned food product to drop into the Holiday Valley Ski Patrol shopping carts as these tireless volunteers walk the route collecting for our local food pantry.
In the early years, there were horses in the parade until insurance concerns became an issue. Business owners, even those not happy with a crazy parade at night in winter were, from the get-go, supportive of the parade and all the shenanigans that go with it. The parade, in essence, created a new season in the community with windows decorated and street music playing weeks before the actual event. Weather permitting, we have been known to have elaborate ice sculptures in town for photo opportunities. The bonus was the increased trade the parade brought to the community, and the increased fun for our visitors.
If you’ve never seen the parade, it may astound you when you witness the size of the floats and the amazing costumes that could easily have come to our streets straight from NOLA. Massive ski hills complete with lift chairs have been seen in the middle of Washington Street, clusters of Minions spreading their love and silliness along the route, and Disney characters populating scenes straight out of the movies.
The Madi Gras parade is a family-friendly event so you can be assured that no alcohol is permitted in the parade. Get the kiddoes close to the front of the lines so they may be able to reach out for the trinkets and candy handed out by the revelers. It’s going to be one of the most fun times in Ellicottville. Don’t miss it!