Mardi Gras 2009

  "Celebrating 20 Years of Mardi Gras Upriver"

MAB BALL FEBRUARY 7, 2009

Jefferson's Mardi Gras is comprised of volunteer membership, whose main focus is the creation of several annual events in the Jefferson, TX area.

Historically, Mardi Gras was celebrated in Jefferson, Texas back in the 19th century, surely a sign of the city's cultural ties with New Orleans via the waterways of the Big Cypress Bayou, Caddo Lake, Twelve Mile Bayou and the Red River.

Numerous stories of the parties thrown in Jefferson appear in area newspapers of the day, noting particularly the galas, including the Queen Mab Ball, held in Jefferson, and other events thrown aboard boats plying the waterways between Jefferson, TX and Shreveport, LA.

When the town's tremendous commerce slowed to a crawl, in the late 1800's, so did much of the city's cultural life. The year 1990, however, marked the rebirth of Jefferson's Mardi Gras celebration, albeit on a slightly smaller scale than the one of today.

Memberships are available to any interested parties and cost $40.00/individual and $75.00/couple

2008 King Jacques Jaubert and Queen Beverly Bradley

which is far less than the thousands of dollars paid by individuals to "play" in the larger Krewes of New Orleans, Mobile, even Shreveport. Jefferson's club is also a bit more relaxed, but if you want to see the group go into action, ask it to host an event.

The first official event wasn't actually Mardi Gras, but instead the 1989 Jefferson Heritage Triathlon. Funds raised from that race helped support the first Mardi Gras in 1990, and since then, the two events have been most inseparable.

                      T R I A T H L O N   2 0 0 9
This past summer, the volunteers and Jefferson hosted its 20th annual Heritage Triathlon, by far one of the most popular races among tri-athletes and also one of the largest running in the four state region of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Registration Form Click on the button for this years Triathlon to be held Sunday July 19th, 2009 at 8:00 AM Sharp at Beautiful Lake O' The Pines, just 10 miles West of Jefferson, Texas.

 Print this form and Mail back to us or go here to register online. Triathlon 2009  

You may also go to  Sport Spectrum USA www.sportspectrumusa.com to locate the Jefferson Heritage Triathlon in the Events area.

Every year the group also sponsors a Halloween event. Some years it is a Haunted House, and this past year it was a "Monster Bash " in conjunction with Auntie Skinner's Riverboat Club.

Mardi Gras in Jefferson is a three day event that is held over the same weekend as Mardi Gras in New Orleans (weekend prior to Fat Tuesday) and the weekend varies from year to year.

Memorial Tribute to Howard "Squared" Howard

Membership Forms


FAT TUESDAY - FEBRUARY 16, 2010
MARDI GRAS WEEKEND - FEBRUARY 5th, 6th, 7th

2011 March 8
2012 February 21
2013 February 12
2014 March 4
2015 February 17
2016 February 9
2017 February 28
2018 February 13
2019 March 5
2020 February 25
2021 February 16
2022 March 1

 

For More Information, Write to:

hebe@mardigrasupriver.com