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May 6, 2008 10:25 pm US/Central
Dallas Mardi Gras Hopes to Draw 100,000
One-Day Event Could Host City's Largest Parade
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Imagine a party that could draw more than 100,000 people to the streets of Dallas. That's what organizers of a day-long Mardi Gras parade hope to do on an annual basis.
Dallas school board member Ron Price is gathering private sponsors with a goal of organizing the city's largest parade; even bigger than the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The proposed event would consist of three Mardi Gras parades on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. All three would wind through the streets of Deep Ellum. The neighborhood, with its roof-top bars and restaurants, offers a similar environment to New Orleans' French Quarter and its famous balconies.
"A lot of people have great times on top of the roofs in New Orleans," said Price. "That's where they have the opportunity to throw beads off the side of the building and get really festive and to really get into it."
The first parade would be family-oriented with high school bands and no alcohol. By mid afternoon, the adults would take over with Mardi Gras floats and alcohol could be served.
By early evening, a third parade would conclude the day-long event. That parade would resemble a traditional New Orleans' party atmosphere.
"The property owners are excited," said Barry Annino, Deep Ellum Foundation. "It's an opportunity to bring back a little bit of the south and to bring back some energy we can all use."
Organizers hope to draw more than 100,000 people from around the state. Extra police would be needed to control public drunkenness and fights, which have occurred at similar events such as the St. Patrick's Day Block Party.
Organizers say previous Mardi Gras events have failed because they have been held on Fat Tuesday, when most people in Dallas are working. They believe this proposed parade would succeed because it would be held on a Saturday.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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