For those of you not quite into the Mardi Gras mood yet, rest assured there is an intrepid band hard at work year-round to plan the festivities so many enjoy.
Last night was Twelfth Night, traditionally the end of the winter festival begun on All Hallows Eve.
In Mardi Gras tradition, it marks the end of the reign of the king and queen of the previous year, and the crowning of new royalty. Small items are baked into a cake — one for the queen, one for the king — and the people who get the slices are crowned.
Last night outgoing king Hobbit Hawes and queen Tamara Hawes passed the party onto Matt Evanoff and Sheila Ann Thibodeaux at a party held at Eleven On Grove.
Outgoing king Hawes offered this wisdom, “With great power comes great responsibility. You ARE the party. It don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that bling.”
Last year’s queen added, “savor all the moments, it really goes fast! to have fun with all the community support, costumes and revelry and do whatever she has to do to stay warm during the parade!”
The new king and queen do promise there will be no shock as there was last year with a royal wedding (for real), and a good time for all.
Says Thibodeaux, “A little girl’s dream came true last night. I’m a Thibodeaux from Louisiana and I always dreamed of being queen. I am the real French Broad who plans to make it a great year with Asheville Mardi Gras. This is the funnest group of people I’ve ever met! I’m the queen! I’m the queen!”
King Evanoff promised “A party for all, as soon as I recover from the party last night. I hope to be a good and kind king, I have some big shoes to fill, and I will do my best to party in them!”
Get your beads and costumes ready, The Asheville parade will be on Sunday, Feb. 10, downtown.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.