Mardi Gras kicks off, parade Saturday
The 17th Annual Mardi Gras Celebration sponsored by the 11th Street Cowboy Bar will take place this weekend. Various Cajun bands will perform at the 11th Street Bar to make the festivities a musical treat.
On Thursday night, Geno Delafose and the French Rockin’ Boogie Band will start the party off. At 10:00 p.m., Kendall Shaffer will bring his country and western style to the stage. Friday at the 11th Street Bar will see Dwayne Dopsie and Zydeco Hellraiser perform on the big stage at 7 p.m. and Kin Faux play at 10:30 p.m.
Saturday will dawn bright and sunny with a gumbo cookoff starting at 8:00 a.m. and Bandera’s biggest parade starting at noon on Main Street. After the parade, the adult costume contest will take place at 2:30 p.m. and the gumbo cookoff awards at 5:00 p.m.
During the day, Ryan Foret and the Foret Tradition will play at 1:00 and 3:30 p.m. at the 11th Street stage. Wayne Toups will begin the nighttime entertainment at 6:30 p.m. and George Dearborne and Branded will play at 9:30 p.m.
Pre Purchase of tickets is recommended for the Mardi Gras events at 11th Street Cowboy Bar. Tickets may be purchased online at: www. banderacowboycapital.com/events/2021/16thannual-11th-street-cowboy-mardi-gras
While the music will be abundant this weekend, the local merchants expect to see huge crowds flock to Bandera’s retail scene.
Trail Boss restruant manager Luke Stricker said he expects the weekend to be extremely busy. The restaurant will sell beef and chicken on a stick out front as well as the traditional sausage on a stick.
“Being right at ground zero for the event, I hope everything goes well. We will have special menu items this weekend reflecting a Cajun theme,” he said.
Trudi Gagnebin of the Bandera Motorcycle Company expects to see more than the regular amount of business at her store on Main Street.
“People like to sit out front to watch the parade. Then they come in to browse in the shop,” she remarked.
She hopes their motorcycle-themed jewelry is a hit with customers. The shop has been in business for seven years, and she works alongside husband David Phillips, owner of Bandera Motorcycle and ATV Repair.
One of the largest businesses in Bandera, Western Trails Antique Mall, will see plenty of customers this weekend.
Manager Eddie Rowe stated, “This has been our largest producing event of the year. We see a lot of high-end buyers come through the mall looking for quality merchandise.”
He expects a busy weekend at the 25,000-square-foot facility. Many buyers from out of state return year after year looking for that special item that can only be found within the walls of Western Trails.
For those wanting a little more physical entertainment, Cowboy Bull Riding and Mini-Bull Riding will be on hand at Mansfield Park. The gates open at 3 PM and the bull riding begins at 5 PM.