2008 San Diego Gaslamp Mardi Gras

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It's been a long grueling year awaiting its return. It's the only holiday made specifically for drinking, celebrating, carousing, and mutually consenting adults. That's right friends; it's Mardi Gras time!

Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday"), is the day before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday (in western Christendom) is the first day of Lent. "Lent" is the period before Easter where fasting, prayer, and self denial are the vogue while indulging in sinful acts, fun and happiness are otherwise discouraged. That said, Mardi Gras is the last possible chance to get it all out of your system before your month and a half self inflicted prohibition. That's the theory, but to most of us it's just a great excuse to hold the biggest street party on the planet.

New Orleans, Louisiana is the undisputed King Rex of Mardi Gras; however it is celebrated throughout the world. In Brazil, it is closely tied to Carnival as well as is Venice. Mazatlan Mexico claims the third largest Mardi Gras on Earth. San Diego now reigns as the premier Mardi Gras destination on the West Coast. This is no small feat, as San Diego Mardi Gras only started in 1996 from 2 floats and whoever happened to be walking by at the time to over 40 floats and 40,000 people only 12 years later. In that relatively short time San Diego has cemented itself as a Top Ten Mardi Gras destination worldwide.

The 2008 Gaslamp Mardi Gras, presented by Southern Comfort will take place on Fat Tuesday, February 5, 2008 from 6pm to Midnight. Mardi Gras is fenced in for the Gaslamp blocks between 4th and 6th and from Broadway all the way down to L. The parade route is right where you'd expect it to be - a straight shot down 5th Avenue in the heart of the action, and for the first time the parade will run twice; the first at 7:30pm and the last at 10pm. You need to be 21 or over (with ID) just to enter the fenced off area; that means drinking in the streets for the rest of us. There are three entry gate locations. The first is at 5th Ave. & Broadway at the north end, 4th & Market in the middle (west side), and 6th at K St. from the south, on the east side. As always, there are no cameras, still or video, of any kind allowed.

The parade begins up north around Broadway and runs south down 5th. The streets are packed at the beginning of the route and spread out towards the end. The end is actually where you want to be, as the people riding the floats suddenly realize they have all these beads left to throw and the parade is almost over. They start throwing whole bags out to fewer people.

The beads are then traditionally bartered for acts of (ahem) affection or what have you.

You can expect to see plenty of feathered and costumed dancers; classic cars carrying parade honorees and lots of themed floats usually sponsored by local bars, restaurants and radio stations. While it's mostly just people involved in the parade who dress up - everybody is encouraged to, after all, it is a masquerade.

The area surrounding the parade features booths for booze (Southern Comfort and Heineken Light), traditional Cajun food and a myriad of entertainment. DJ Marc Thrasher can be found at the Carnivale di Venezia stage. DJ Brent Bartel will be kicking the beats with drummers at the Rio de Janeiro Stage. DJ Diamond & Miss Lisa host the Caribbean Trinidad & Tobago stage and the whole place will be hopping with roaming street performances by the Mayan Kings, Archie Thompson, the Super Sonic Samba School and Stilt Walkers. Watch out for high flying kicks from Capoeira Brazil. Rock Bottom is featuring the ABC Band while Dicks Last Resort is hosting the Best Mardi Gras Costume contest where you can win double your weight in cash.

If you're looking to make a night of it, and we all are, take time to make reservations for one of 24 participating restaurants within festival grounds. A $30 online ticket includes both entry and an entree. Among the eateries inviting you to "Eat, Drink, and be Mardi" are some of the most popular culinary destinations in town including The Fleetwood, Gaslamp Strip Club (A Steak Place), Mr. Tiki's Mai Tai Lounge, and even Bachelor star Andrew Firestone's Confidential Restaurant & Loft.

At the end of the night, head over to the official after party at the House of Blues with live music from the Bayou Brothers.

2008 Gaslamp Mardi Gras Insider Tips:

- Take the Trolley. Parking is a nightmare and you don't want to miss half the night looking for a spot. There are Trolley stops near both the north and south ends of Mardi Gras.

- Get there early - leave early. You want a good spot for the parade, but things can get out of hand when the alcohol kicks in - especially on the north end. It's a good idea to leave on a high note.

- Be respectful. Bead bartering is bound to happen. Remember that not everybody wants to participate. Be polite, don't be creepy. It's not nearly as much as you're expecting.

- Mardi Gras colors are purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. They are the official colors of the House of Romanov.

- If you see a large man running down the street in a cape and crown yelling "I am the King of Mardi Gras" - it's probably me, stop and say hi.

DiscoverSD Insiders - get your discount VIP Mardi Gras tickets here.

For more information on the Gaslamp Quarter Association 2008 San Diego Mardi Gras, read the details here.