The 2017 Mardi Gras Southeast Texas unofficially kicks off this weekend with Beans & Jeans.

The party runs from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7 at the Bob Bowers Civic Center in Port Arthur, 3401 Cultural Center Dr. Electric Circus of Austin will be providing the music for the second year in a row. Jerrilynn Miller with Krewe De Bon Appetit and one of the organizers said the band plays a good variety of dance music.

This will be the fifth year for Beans and Jeans. Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas, likewise, will be celebrating its 25^th anniversary his year.

Beans & Jeans started at the Carl Parker Center at Lamar State College-Port Arthur, but sold out its first year before it was moved to a larger venue.

They have since sold out every year.

Tickets may be bought by the general public for $25 each from krewes who have left over tickets or they may be bought by contacting Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas at 409-721-8717.

Red beans and rice and king cakes will be served among other delicacies. It will be BYOB.

“Beans and Jeans started as a fundraiser to pay for maintenance fees for the krewes. There are 11 other krewes participating,” Miller said. “We have close to 1,500 people attend. It coincides with Epiphany or the Three Kings’ Day. It marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of the Mardi Gras season.”

As opposed to the formal balls held later in the season, Beans and Jeans is a casual event.

“We hope we have a sell-out crowd this year,” Miller said. “Laissez les bon temps rouler!”

David Ball: 409-721-2427

 

 

 

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