Mardi Gras celebration a first in Cape Harbour

By CONNOR HOLMES, cholmes@breezenewspapers.com

Cape Harbour store owners are set to hold their inaugural Mardi Gras event Tuesday night, with beads, masks and community dining in a genuine New Orleans environment at the forefront of the anticipated fun.

The event will be held at the Cape Harbour community at the southern end of Chiquita Boulevard, from 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday night in celebration of Fat Tuesday with hundreds of expected attendees.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun with it,” said Chef Robert of Pignoli, a Cape Harbour restaurant.

Pignoli plans to offer party-goers traditional New Orleans dishes such as jambalaya, shrimp po-boys, cajun chicken and Louisiana bourbon beef, and there will be live jazz to compliment the experience, said Chef Robert.

“This time of year, I think people are looking for some kind of entertainment, and Cape Harbour is a free area; people can come down and enjoy the music,” he said. “Cape Harbour (businesses try) to keep the prices for things very reasonable, all foods are under $10. People can... enjoy themselves... if they want to eat at the restaurants, there’s so much opportunity.”

According to Chef Robert, each business in the Cape Harbour has its own plans for the event, such as the Candy Store and More, whcih will hand out masks and beads with customer purchases, he said.

The Joint, another Cape Harbour restaurant, plans to host the Diane Russell band for live entertainment from 6 to 10 p.m. and will fill the crowds with masks, hats, beads and other “Mardi Gras paraphernalia” said restaurant manager Sean Lucas. The restaurant will also offer drink specials and food specials to customers during the festivities, he said.

The event will “most definitely” bolster a relationship between Cape Harbour business owners and community members, said Lucas.

“We just want everyone to come on down,” said Chef Robert.