2019 Mardi Gras Parade and Queens Ball in Asheville

The parade is our gift to the city,  a zany, exuberant and irreverent downtown event in the dead of winter.

Date:  March 3, 2019

TIME: 3:05 Step Off

This parade is our gift to the city, a zany, exuberant and irreverent downtown event in the dead of winter.

We invite residents to get together with friends, neighbors, and coworkers to create high-quality, surprising and entertaining entries, add upbeat music, and strut their stuff tossing those ubiquitous beads to the crowd. Zaniness, political satire, and amazing displays of populist art appreciated!

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We love and respect our community, and Asheville is not Bourbon Street. Alcohol and nudity are not part of our twist on Mardi Gras in the mountains. We are promoting a fun, safe event for all ages – with a definite emphasis on FUN!

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All are welcome to march or cheer on the marchers this March!

This year's theme is "Wild, Wild Asheville." So think wild west, wild animals, wild women or just plain getting wild! As always, the theme is just a helpful little nudge. You can feel free to incorporate it into your costume or krewe, or simply let your imagination run "wild" and show off your creativity in any way you see fit.

Members March!

While anyone is welcome to march in the parade, at least one representative of each krewe MUST be a member of Asheville Mardi Gras and must supply one parade volunteer. Keep in mind that the only way the parade survives is through membership support, so if more than one person joins up -- we would certainly appreciate it! To become a member, Click Here And, speaking of krewes ...

Join a Krewe!

You’re welcome to march solo, or with a group of your friends as part of a krewe. You may even be able to join one of our existing krewes! Click Here to sign up. All we ask is that you dress up, show up and bring some goodies like candy or beads to hand out to the parade attendees.

Parade Route

Parade participants will line up along Federal Alley from between 1 PM and 2 PM on March 3. The parade will then step off at its traditional time of 3:05 PM and head east on Hilliard Ave before turning south on Coxe Ave. The parade will then continue east on Banks Ave, turn briefly south on Church St., then west on Buxton Ave. and back to Federal Alley to finish up.

Parking

Parking is permitted on city streets in areas not included in road-closure zones where normally allowed by the city. Additionally, free parking is available at McCormick Field, who has asked that no costuming or float decorating take place on the premises.

Road Closures

Roads in the area will be closed at noon on March 3 at the following points: Hiliard, between Asheland and Coxe; Coxe, between Hilliard and Millard; Buxton, between Millard and Coxe; Banks, between Church and Coxe; and Federal Alley. Drivers going to private parking lots which they are permitted to use along with local business owners, floats and residents will be allowed into the parade route until the parade begins. No cars will be permitted to leave until after the parade concludes, around 5 PM. All cars should be removed from road closure zone before noon on the day of the parade, or else they will not be able to leave until the parade’s conclusion.

The Queen's Ball
2019
Free. Fun. Fabulous!
This year, the Queen's Ball returns to the Century Room above Pack's Tavern (20 S Spruce St, Asheville, NC 28801)
 5-10 PM.

The event is FREE to the public and a cash bar will be open for drinks. Be sure to check out the Facebook Event Page for full details, updates and discussion.