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Friday, February 24, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. on Frankfort Avenue at the Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center

Imagine a year with no Kentucky Derby and no Derby Festival. If you're from New Orleans and Louisiana, that's like a year with no Mardi Gras. This event is designed as a way for all of Louisville to welcome our many new neighbors from Louisiana displaced here due to hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. It is estimated that there are about 200 families who will remain with us in the year to come. Those we have contact with have indicated that a year without Mardi Gras events marks yet another loss for them. We want to help them to celebrate "Louisville style" and give them a sense of normalcy and renewed spirit.

All of Louisville and surrounding areas are welcome and encouraged to attend. This will be a free public event.

The event will occur in conjunction with the already scheduled FAT Friday the monthly Frankfort Avenue Trolley (FAT) "hop" on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2006.

The PARADE will include:

--Pedestrians in costume on the sidewalks - throwing beads and doubloons

--Street Musicians

--"Floats" - decorated vehicles that will travel WITH regular traffic (no street closings)

PARTIES:

--will occur in businesses along Frankfort Avenue as well as other businesses associated with FAT Friday,

--Highlight parties will occur at Cafe Lou Lou, Gumbo A Go Go

-- Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center - KREWE OF LOUISVILLE BALL, 9-11pm featuring: "JAZZ CRAFTERS" with dancers from DANCE LOUISVILLE studios.

This event is being coordinated by:
Patrick Deprey, Co-Coordinator, 228-1401, birddeprey@insightbb.com
Mimi Englert, Co-Coordinator, 609-2877

PRIMARY SPONSORS: Anheuser Busch and Makers Mark

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED:
Metro Louisville, Office of the Mayor
Frankfort Avenue Business Association (FABA)
Clifton Community Council
Crescent Hill Community Council
Butchertown Neighborhood Association
Metro Councilperson Tina Ward Pugh
Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center
Cafe Lou Lou
Gumbo A Go GO

VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME for costume creation, costume wearing, float creation, music performance, materials donation and monetary donation. All donations are tax deductible.

Detailed information registration information can be found at our website: