Parade Details
The Grand Parade will hit MAIN ST. heading toward the waterfront once again in 2012! This move was made in 2011 to better accommodate the thousands of expected revelers who attend the Parade and the new route proved to be a success.
At 3pm, the Grand Parade will begin at South Winooski and Main and end up at Battery Street. Line up early to get your prime viewing spot so you can see the regalia and catch the beads, moonpies and Lake Champlain chocolates as they fly from the floats!
Families with children under 10 years of age are welcome to catch the parade to from the Little Jambalaya Viewing Zone, located on the north side of Main St., between South Champlain and Battery Streets. For those with disabilities, there will be a special viewing zone at the intersection of Church and Main.
Here are the day's downtown happenings (click on the links for more information on each section). The pre-parade activities begin at noon:
- Noon-3pm: Get H.O.P.E. Works beads at specified locations
- Noon-3pm and 4-5pm: Visit the Magic Hat Mardi Gras Photo Booth
- Noon-1:15pm: Sambatucada! performs in front of City Hall
- 12:30-2:30pm: Bindlestiff Family Cirkus entertain on Church St.
- 1:15pm: King and Queen Costume Contest - top block of Church St.
- 1:30-2:30pm: FunkWagon performs on the top block of Church St.
- 2-2:30pm: Sambatucada! performs a second set in front of City Hall
- 3pm: The Grand Parade!
- Post-Parade: Special 90-minute solo set from Zach Deputy - top block of Church St.
Where to Get Beads:
The Magic Hat Artifactory (5 Bartlett Bay Rd., S. Burlington)
The Body Shop
Bueno y Sano
Ecco
Expressions
Frog Hollow
Pearl Street Beverage
Sweet Lady Jane
Trinkets
Winooski Beverage Warehouse
Mardi Gras Photobooth
Immortalize yourselves with a FREE photo from the Magic Hat Photo Booth in front of Homeport on Church St.
Sambatucada!
For more than 15 years, the Afro-Brazilian rhythms of Sambatucada! have been getting people's feet tapping and bodies swaying at parades, festivals, celebrations and community events of every conceivable variety, including Burlington’s Discover Jazz Festival, First Night, the Magic Hat Mardi Gras, Independence Day, Latino Fest, and even the Vermont City Marathon.
Bindlestiff Family Cirkus
Multi-skilled performers from this Albany-based entertainment company will roam Church Street with show-stopping costumes and charismatic, interactive performances including physical comedy, prop manipulation, manipulative skills and more! Visit Bindlestiff's website to learn more about their unique hybrid of entertainment!
FunkWagon
The funk-infused stylings of Burlington's own FunkWagon will help get the blood flowing! Join them at the top block of Church St.
The King & Queen Costume Contest:
The Costume Contest will take place on the top block of Church St. hosted by Tim Kavanagh. This is a solo contest for Kings & Queens...you need not be part of a couple to compete (although couples are welcome!). The winners will be chosen by the crowd and will lead the Mardi Gras Parade, as well as receive a pair of round trip tickets anywhere JetBlue Airways flies! **If you want to be a part of the contest, join us at stage at the top block of Church St. no later than 1pm!**
Zach Deputy
Don't miss this master of live looping as he performs a 90-minute soulful set, rich with rhythm and blues sound immediately following the parade at the top of Church St. He performs the only solo set on his tour right here at Magic Hat's 2012 Mardi Gras! Visit Zach Deputy's website for more information!
THE PARADE!
Start lining the streets around 2:30 so you can get a great view of the parade of Mardi Gras floats as they roll down Main St. Get ready to grab your beads, moonpies and Lake Champlain Chocolates as they're thrown from the floats!