Mardi Gras coming to downtown Texarkana, AR | Arts & Culture

Come February 9, downtown Texarkana, AR will be awash in purple and gold for their Front Street Texarkana Mardi Gras Festival, Parade and Street Dance.

Texarkana, AR Marketing Director Charlotte Hartwell says the event is free and there will not be an entry fee for vendors and parade participants.

The festivities start that afternoon at 2 p.m. with the “Krewe of Paws & Little Rascals,” which is a mini pet parade and children’s battery operated vehicle parade. There will be lots of activities for the children, live music, commercial/ local food vendors and retail booths.

Bring your appetite because at 2 p.m. our food vendors will have prepared for you: crawfish, boudan, seafood po’boys, gumbo, jambalaya, hot wings, BBQ, fish, chicken, hot dogs, gourmet coffees, specialty cakes, and homemade candy. Throughout the day folks will browse for Mardi Gras trinkets, children’s clothes and accessories, handmade jewelry, soaps, bath & body products, zumba dance, and fitness demonstrations just to name a few.

The Grand Parade, “Krewe of Koinonia”, will showcase meticulously crafted floats that reflect the beauty and pageantry of its theme, “Music Icons”. The parade starts at 4 p.m. and adds to the festivities: contests, adult beverage booths, live music, and a street dance immediately following the grand parade. 

Front Street is honored to introduce Texarkana to our Mardi Gras street dance band ‘Captain Joe’ from Atlanta, TX. Captain Joe band plays at the Krewe of Centaur Parade in Shreveport, Louisiana.  They play a mix of classic country to Southern Rock, from artists like, Marshall Tucker Band, The Eagles, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, to artists such as, Charlie Daniels, Hank Williams, Jr., George Jones, Merle Haggard, along with some original music.  ‘Captain Joe’ is sponsored by Domino FCU.

Charlotte Hartwell, Marketing Director for the city of Texarkana, Arkansas and Front Street Festival Plaza said, “ When trying to come up with a name for our (Texarkana) krewe, the topic that's near and dear to my heart is the unification of our twin cities. The Greek word for 'unity' is 'Koinonia'. When we work together, we truly are "twice as nice". So in Texarkana, we’re the 'Krewe of Koinonia."

Wayne Smith, Mayor of Texarkana, Arkansas added, “We are determined to provide programs for our citizens in our historic downtown area.  Front Street and Front Street Plaza is an ideal place to sponsor these programs. Texarkana’s 1st Annual Front Street Mardi Gras Festival, Parade, and Street Dance is the first venue in 2013. I am encouraging all citizens in or near Texarkana USA to come visit Historic Downtown Texarkana on February 9th; enjoy the parade, music and great food. Let’s have some fun and ‘Koinonia’. Hope to see you there."

Admission is free and there are no vendor or parade entry fees. There’s ample room for everyone to bring their lawn chairs, sit and listen to the great music, dance, shop, and watch the parade on Front Street. Thousands of throws and trinkets will be thrown on Front Street only, so bring your lawn chairs and a bag to hold all the throws you’ll catch and don’t forget to yell “throw me some beads mister!"

If you would like information or parade/vendor applications contact Charlotte Hartwell 903-490-7859 or email charlotte.hartwell@txkusa.org