St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church’s Mardi Gras Celebration is a fun event with a festive atmosphere. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the celebration returns this year with the chance for people to dress up and again have a good time.
“The community looks forward to this event,” said Jackie Lewis, who is chair of the church’s Mardi Gras Committee. The group met recently to put the final touches on plans for this year’s event, which will be held from 7 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Leflore County Civic Center.
“We did not have Mardi Gras in 2021 or 2022,” said the Rev. Joachim Studwell, pastor of St. Francis Church. “It was an interruption, but we wanted everyone to be safe.”
Traditionally, proceeds raised for the ball benefited St. Francis of Assisi School, which saddened the community by closing on May 20 after more than 70 years of operation.
Studwell said this year’s proceeds will be put toward funding church operations. The event is being sponsored by St. Francis Parish.
St. Francis School, which educated mostly Black and Hispanic children, closed due to declining enrollment, rising expenses and a deteriorating physical plant.
Tickets for this year’s Mardi Gras Ball are $35 per adult and include a New Orleans-style buffet of meatballs, assorted wings and sandwiches, gumbo and jambalaya. There will be a battle of the DJs between local artist Pup “DJ Too Much” Dunlap and DJ Traxx Cre8tor of Jackson. Attire will be Mardi Gras festive (no jeans) or semi-formal, and no children will be allowed.
Tickets may be purchased at the church office or by calling 662-453-0623. No tickets will be sold the night of the ball.
Contact Dan Marsh at 662-581-7235 or dmarsh@gwcommonwealth.com.
