It all kicks off with lots of beads and delicious Cajun food and drink at Old Iron Post - but its not Mardi Gras without jazz and lots of it, right? And thanks to Sherman Main Street and the Sherman JAMS (Jazz and More Society) there will be plenty of great music Saturday!
One of the gems of Downtown Sherman is the Sherman Jazz Museum and you need to be there from 2 to 4 on Feb. 18th to hear 6 outstanding jazz musicians led by Randy Lee in a free concert. Seating is somewhat limited, so arrive a little early to get a front row seat and while you're at the museum, take a walk around and soak in the murals depicting the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Al Hirt, and more. There are thousands of original album covers, trumpets played by some of the greats like Doc Severinsen and Dizzie Gillespie, antique recording equipment and much more memorabilia from the jazz music world
At 6:00 be on the patio of Old Iron Post wearing all your best Mardi Gras celebration gear - boa, mask, lots of beads and don't leave the parasol at home - and dance along behind the musicians of Vieux Carre Messenger and they lead the Second Line Style Mardi Gras March up Travis, down Wall and back. You can dance, throw beads, whoop and holler celebrating Mardi Gras all the way.
Once inside of Old Iron Post, grab a bowl of Etouffee or Gumbo, a hurricane and settle in to party to the high energy, outstanding Dixieland of Vieux Carre Messenger. Not to be missed is dancing with the band as they parade around OIP's giant center bar.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!