A look at the history of Mardi Gras in St. Louis

Kaitlin Petersen, Staff Writer

Are your friends talking about going to St. Louis this weekend for Mardi Gras? Are you confused when they say St. Louis and not New Orleans? I don’t blame you. Growing up in St. Louis, I always knew that Mardi Gras was filled with parades, celebration, and an endless array of boas, masks, and beads, however, I never really stopped to think about why Mardi Gras was so heavily celebrated in St. Louis.

Soulard is an area in St. Louis where the Mardi Gras celebration occurs. It is named after a French surveyor, Antoine Soulard, so the city’s French history is partially responsible for linking the city with New Orleans. The first celebration of Mardi Gras  in St. Louis occurred in 1980 when a man and his friends gathered to blow off steam in the middle of winter. They paraded down the street to multiple bars carrying bags of beads and yelling in celebration. The rest was history. Now, over 25 years later, the tradition continues and is larger than ever.

If you have the case of winter cabin fever and want to blow off steam before Lent begins, come to Soulard in St. Louis this weekend and celebrate Mardi Gras. If you are 21, the weekend is sponsored by Anheuser-Busch and Southern Comfort*. If you are not of legal age, there is something for everyone! With two large parades, racing wiener dogs, excellent restaurants, you’re bound to have plenty of fun.

*Please drink responsibly.