Join The Krewe of Jesters for the 4th Annual Boati Gras Celebration, Saturday August 6th
What do you get when you combine a lake community that loves light-hearted fun with a Krewe of Jesters? Boati Gras of course! Laissez les bon temps rouler (“let the good times roll”). Fairfield Bay celebrates Mardi Gras in August at beautiful Greers Ferry Lake. Entering its 4th year this colorful ‘party on the water’ festival is every thing its name suggests. Since Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday we surmise that Boati Gras mean Fat Boat with a whole lot of fun happening aboard.
Why August you may ask?
“In February, it’s way too cold to spend much time out on the water,” commented Liz “Lil Sista” Beach, co-founder of Boati Gras, “so we chose August when the weather and water are much more inviting to friends and frolic. Yes, I said frolic! The whole point of Boati Gras is to get outside in the water, have some fun, and not take ourselves too seriously.”
Held annually on the first Saturday in August at the Port of Fairfield Bay, Boati Gras 2016 will kick off on Saturday, August 6th at 5pm with an evening full of color, festive crowds, and flamboyant floats – set to be the grandest yet! Quite a jovial site to behold with music, merriment, jambalaya and a boat parade! And did we mention costumes, rubber ducks and beads, beads, beads? Commemorate the day with free photo booth pics and enjoy the live music and entertainment. Stay and dance to the popular Crescent City Combo band playing on the dock after the parade.
“Boati Gras is just pure fun,” said Liz. “We want folks to come play, to dress up, to act silly, to put aside all that serious stuff that life throws at you every day and just come relax and have fun!”
Want to join in the Parade? Sounds good to us.
To be in the parade, all you have to do is decorate your boat anyway you want and join us at the Marina at 5pm. Decorate your boat in festive Mardi-Gras style regalia – purple, green, and gold (or not) and line up at 6 pm beyond the breakwater to join the parade. No boat? No Problem! Stay on shore or at the dock to catch a few beads! Great fun for the entire family. If beads and rubber ducks sound like fun, c’mon down!!!
Why should N’Awlins have all the fun?!
For more information, or to gather your own Krewe and boat, contact Roxie Bradley at [email protected]. It’s all about good clean fun on the lake, and it’s free to participate. Start your own Krewe and be a king (or Queen) yourself. It’s good to be King!
Schedule of Events (“fun times”)
4-5pm – Gathering at the dock (Fairfield Bay Marina)
5pm – Fun, Fol-de-Rol & Fleet regalia with the Town Crier (Doug Landry) and the 2016 King of Krewe Jesters (Dan Feuer) and his loyal subjects
• Second-line band escorts the Royal Personage & entertains the loyal subjects
• Introduction of His Royal Highness and Court
• A few words of Wit & Wisdom from His Royal Jesterness
• His Most High Jesterness leads the crowd in a line-dance
• The Town Crier tells us all what’s really going on (because only he really knows)
• The Blessing of the Fleet, by Pastor Ken Reece
• The Cleansing of the Fleet, by Fire Chief Leo Brandmeyer
• Kleenex and kazoos are other merrymakers are given out the King parades his subjects to The Boats!
6pm – On with the Parade!
• The Boati Gras Boat Parade begins where beads, rubber ducks and candy come ashore. Merriment ensues!
• FREE Photo Booth to capture the moments and color of the day…. hats, kazoos and merrymakers of all sorts. All ages are welcome. Photo booth brought to you courtesy of Dock of the Bay (Lacey Mitchell) & Liz Beach.
• Jambalya and Mardi Gras Fare – not to be missed –by the Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Men’s club.
Following the Parade –
• Awards of all types – fit for any King (or Queen). 16 categories in all, including Best Jester, Best Costume, Best Crowd Response, Best Krewe Spirit, Best All Around Boat, Lagniappe, Piquante, Un Bijon and so many more!
• 7-9pm – Live Boati Gras music and the evening’s entertainment by the popular Crescent City Combo
Live Music:
Second Line Band
Evening’s Entertainment – Crescent City Combo
#letthegoodtimesroll, #FFBBoatiGras