The University Programming Board kicked off the carnival season with a Mardi Gras TGIF celebration on Jan. 23. Students listened to music, ate food and celebrated the end of a long week of school.
As 3:30 p.m. neared, the usual vacant area behind the Danna Center came alive with music. New Orleans native Soul Rebels Brass Band play for a crowd of over 200 students.
“This is one of the best UPB events I have attended. The brass band made it the best one yet,” said Alex Fournet, international business and religious studies sophomore.
The celebration also attracted more than just Loyola students.
One couple, who heard about the event on 90.7 WWOZ radio station said, “We’re really impressed with the band and the students who organized the event. It’s a really fun and enjoyable event, especially to our 2-year-old daughter, who can’t seem to stop dancing.”
Though none of the students danced, many took naps, played football and hacky sack and socialized. The majority of students sat in little groups and discussed potential weekend plans.
Other students enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches, chips, pasta, lemonade and other refreshments. For dessert, students indulged in the ever-important Mardi Gras comfort food, king cake.
According to Hasan Riaz, biochemical pre-med sophomore, the event had great food and was refreshing after four straight classes.
When students were done eating, they visited the purple, green and gold-decorated tables. The tables had supplies where students could make their own unique crowns, decked out with feathers, glitter, stars and letters.
To get students in the Mardi Gras mood, UPB members resorted to a non-Mardi Gras tactic. Instead of throwing beads and tiny footballs at a drunken flasher or the loudest person who could yell, “Throw me something mister,” they gave the items to random students as gifts.
Nonetheless, UPB captured the essence of Mardi Gras, though in a much tamer perspective.
The musical performers added a calming jazz feeling to the event. The decorative masks and Mardi Gras-colored balloons created the feeling of the carnival season.
Many first time UPB event-goers said that they would come to other UPB events.
“It was a great way to spend a Friday afternoon after a long week of school and I would definitely come to other UPB events,” said Carolyn Nguyen, psychology pre-med sophomore.
UPB hosts a Friday celebration every month of the semester, each with a different theme.
Other up-incoming UPB events include: Dinner and a Movie Night, Mystery Dinner, Tacos and Trivia and Spirit Day.
Kieu Tran can be reached at [email protected].
Erion Williams plays saxophone with Soul Rebels Brass Band at University Programming Board’s Third Friday event on Jan. 23. Mardi Gras crown-making and king cake were also offered. (Photo by Kevin Zansler/The Maroon)
