Fat Tuesday is Coming, Join the Procession!

By Holly Houser, Ocean Reef Press Editorial Assistant

The 6th annual Fat Tuesday Celebration is set for Tuesday, February 25 and you’re invited to join the procession! All you’ll need is a cart and a theme – it’s that simple. So grab your Mardi Gras masks and a friend or two and start planning!

Each year, the Fat Tuesday procession, which departs from the Town Hall Parking Lot at 5:30 p.m. en route to The Field at Four Corners, sees a variety of themed floats. Some groups decorate their cart in Mardi Gras colors, while others come up with elaborate themes. Some begin planning a year in advance and others just a week. The takeaway is, everyone is encouraged to participate in the 2020 Fat Tuesday parade and participation can be as involved as desired.

Below, read about some former Fat Tuesday parade winners. Maybe they’ll spark your creativity!

2019 People’s Choice Winners –
Bonefish Bonnies

The Bonefish Bonnies turned 20 last year. In honor of this anniversary, they celebrated with a “Happy Birthday” themed Fat Tuesday float. The Bonnies had a blast as, with a large inflatable birthday cake strapped atop the cart, they followed the parade donning Mardi Gras masks and birthday hats, handing out cupcakes and singing, “Happy birthday to us!” The Bonnies have participated in Fat Tuesday for many years. “We all get together and throw out ideas for our float theme,” said Laura Zausmer who spearheaded last year’s cart decorating. “We have a brainstorming group that usually begins planning a month or two in advance.”

2018 Judges’ Choice Winners –
Art League

In 2018, the Art League went “big” with their float, as in big paintbrushes! Dressed in a mashup of Mardi Gras accessories and Art League aprons, they carried colorful umbrellas and over-sized paintbrushes and palettes as they walked alongside the “Art Cart.” On the back of the cart featured beautiful replicas of famous pieces of art. Float ringleader Debbie Hartmann has a committee that works with her every year on the float, saying, “It takes a village and a lot of Amazon orders.”

2017 Judges’ Choice Winners –
Tennis & Games Center

Kathy White and Bill Wonfor have been the lead on the Tennis float for the past several years and in 2017, they won Judges’ Choice. Tennis and pickleball racquets and balls decorated the cart, while the Tennis & Games Center Pros played both games over a real net as they walked the parade. The next year, Kathy and Bill had a mini tennis net on their cart and last year, they actually transformed their cart into a life-sized tennis court. Kathy and Bill’s favorite part about Fat Tuesday is their fiveyear decorating party tradition and the camaraderie it inspires. If you’d like to participate in the Fat Tuesday procession (individuals and Clubs Within the Club welcomed), call the Member Events department at 305-367-6618 or click here.