Locals gather for food and entertainment on the weekend preceding Mardi Gras
With the company of people from the parish, the St. Thomas More Newman Center celebrated their third annual Mardi Gras parade. The parade spanned the radius of the church and included families and other organizations like the Anderson Equestrian Center and the American Heritage Girls. Mardi Gras is a Catholic tradition that precedes Lent, a season when participants partake in prayer and fasting for 40 days and nights.
As the parade was raring up, Iron Man the goat prepares to show off his sign on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at the Newman Center parish parking lot in Columbia, Mo. Katy and John Anderson brought a few animal companions from their equine facility to partake in the parade. Iron Man and his pony companion, Thor, were specifically chosen for the parade. “They [were] the easiest ones to bring,” John Anderson said. “They are so well behaved.” Attendees participate in the kazoo band playing, “When the Saints Go Marching In.” The Mardi Gras parade set off with families and organizations walking the path around the church. MU alumni Emily Maruszak accepts beads from a parade participant as she stands by her friends. People on the side of the road received beads and candy as the parade went by. “[We knew it was] going to be a good time to reconnect and support Newman and the community and just have fun,” Maruszak said. Four men stand on an upper level of the parking garage trying to catch beads from the parade. The parade was watched from the ground and above from the parking garage. A child shows off his balloon snake as he runs around the Newman Center. Some children had balloon animals and beads thrown to them from those participating in the parade. King Cake lines the table inside the church for guests to enjoy. Specific slices of cake had hidden baby figures inside. If someone finds a baby inside, they will have good luck for the rest of the year. Chloe Rodewald found a baby figure in her slice of King Cake. “I didn’t know what it meant,” Rodewald said. “I just thought it was cute.” After finding the baby, Rodewald described herself as feeling lucky. The ShowMe Brass band’s tuba player Ed Lammers performed many different jazz songs as musical entertainment. Some band members did not have much time to enjoy the festivities. Donald Burke-Agüero, Lammers’ fellow band member, preferred to prepare for their set. “When it’s our turn to play, people want us to be ready,” Burke-Agüero said. “So I want to be there.” The popular small dog of the event, Brielle, and her owner Susan McKarns, MU professor of immunology, volunteered at the intersections of the parade. “[Brielle] got to meet all of the participants in the parade,” McKarns said.Lindsey Tyler and Lyla Morehouse pose for a selfie with Truman the Tiger after he stopped by. Truman walked around and took pictures with kids, adding to the energy of the event.
Edited by Michael Baniewicz | mbaniewicz@themaneater.com
marg • Feb 28, 2024 at 10:45 am
It looks like a fun community event & so pleased to see the church community involved in campus life!