by James Coulter
Several dozen Jeep vehicles lined the streets of Orange Avenue last Thursday evening to deck themselves with festive purple, gold, and green for the Lake Wales Mardi Gras parade the next day.
Carey Coco, owner of Keep Moving Health, has been attending Lake Wales Mardi Gras with her family for the past three years. As someone from Louisiana, love for Mardi Gras comes naturally, he husband claimed.
Her family went all out with their Jeep vehicle decorated in Mardi Gras colors, masks on their dashboard, a giant purple and gold bow on their front bumper, and their kids wearing jester hats.
“It is a good parade with good family-friendly fun,” her husband said. “My expectations for this year’s parade is the same: to have a good time and look at the floats and let the good times roll.”
Mark Ward and his family, meanwhile, decided to decorate their vehicle after a galaxy far, far away. Their windshield displayed the quote, “This is the Way”, and featured a plushie of Grogu (Baby Yoda) from the hit Star Wars TV Show, “The Mandalorian.”
Ward personally knows the owner and wanted to help support her during her inaugural event. “It is so far so good with a good turnout,” he said.
Jessy G recently opened her photography studio at 251 E Park Ave in Downtown Lake Wales. She and her co-partner, the owner of Lake Wailes Point, wanted to drum up both support for her new business and excitement for the Lake Wales Mardi Gras. So, they decided to host the contest.
“We just wanted to have some fun,” Jessy said. “I just really wanted to make an impact and show some fun and stuff, and support our Jeepers that we have out here.”
Aside from the contest, the event that evening also included a handful of local vendors as well as musical entertainment provided by a local DJ. Overall, the small yet big turnout proved to be quite a good start to the Mardi Gras celebration, Jessy said.
“I am pretty excited about it,” she said. “I am so excited and stoked for Mardi Gras this year. Every year it is a good thing. We are just so happy to be excluded this year.”
To learn more about Jessy H Photography, visit their website at: https://www.jessygphotography.com/
