Everything you need to know about Mardi Gras
Unless you’re on a plane to New Orleans Saturday night, there’s no reason not to be at Utah State University’s Mardi Gras party.
Mardi Gras is the party of the spring, and is rivaled only by the Howl in anticipation and scale. What makes Mardi Gras so different, and so great, is the variety of entertainment. In addition to the large dance held in the Fieldhouse, the party’s list of entertainment includes casino games, tarot card readers and a magician, just to scratch the green-and-gold surface.
“Mardi Gras is an event where you should enjoy the whole experience, not just the dance,” said Becca Glover, a senior who has helped with Mardi Gras in the past.
Students attending the event can expect an experience well worth the price of admission. The night will kick off with comic juggler Marcus Monroe at 9:30 p.m. Following that, magician Peter Boie will take the stage at 10:30 p.m. There will also be henna artists, Tarot card readers and a photo both. In the Taggart Student Center Ballroom, casino games like Blackjack and Texas Hold’em will be available to play at more than 20 tables.
If any of this sounds great to you (hint: it should) there are a few things you need to know to really enjoy the night.
1. Get your tickets
Tickets to Mardi Gras cost $5 in advance and $10 at the door for Utah State University students. If you have friends coming to town, non-USU students can buy their tickets for $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets can be bought in the card office or at the Spectrum ticket office.
2. Show up early
“We are booked from the beginning to the end, just filled with entertainment,” said Felicia Gallegos, the activities director at USU. The doors open at 9 p.m., and until they close at 1 a.m. there’s more than enough to keep students occupied. Showing up a few hours after doors open may still provide a memorable time, but there’s not enough time to enjoy the party. In addition, if you have an activity you really want to do, it’s a good idea to be early to make sure you get to it, especially if it’s the casino. Just be sure to be done for the night before you leave the party, because there will be no re-entry.
3. Don’t wear a mask
Just don’t do it. I know your mask is probably super cool looking, and I know you like the way it gives you that perfect balance of sexy and mysterious, but you won’t get in the door with one on and then you’ll just look sad.
4. Bring an ID
Without identification, you’re not going to get in. So as annoying as it can be to have to worry about losing it all night, bring it if you don’t want to literally be left out in the cold.
5. Pick up your poker chips in the ballroom
Every student gets an allotment of chips for showing up, which can be turned in during the night for raffle tickets. These raffle tickets give you a chance to win some seriously cool prizes. So even if casino games aren’t your thing, its worth swinging by the ballroom just to grab your chips.
After all of that, its just a matter of prioritizing your night. Go to whatever you want to do the most first, and make a night of it from there. No matter why they come, Aggies of all kinds always have a great time.