By By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
March 11, 2001
Encouraged by the success of Meridian's first Mardi Gras celebration, city officials are already making plans to expand the downtown party next year.
The city's first Mardi Gras festival was held downtown at DuMont Plaza last month. Organizers have estimated about 1,100 people attended. Food vendors from area restaurants did well, selling out in after a couple of hours according to Smith.
Because Mardi Gras celebrations are rare beyond the coastal region of the state, Smith is hoping that eventually Meridian could become the pre-Lent party hub.
Smith did give assurance though that the bare bodies and drunken mishaps that have become the marquee for New Orleans' celebration wouldn't happen in Meridian. Not one mishap occurred according to Smith.
Smith said organizers would soon begin planning next year's event and should have a date for the event by the end of April.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.