One Big Block Party

Date: 02.25.2010 | Category: Coming Up

by FarmPlate

Move over Crescent City. It’s Burlington’s turn to let les bons temps rouler. The Magic Hat Mardi Gras Celebration in downtown Burlington, Vermont, opens with music at Higher Ground on Friday night. On Saturday, live bands on Church Street will fill the air with Cajun/Creole sounds as pubs and cafes will serve up tasty New Orleans fare.

The King & Queen of Mardi Gras Costume Contest begins at noon outside City Hall. Winners are each awarded $500 and will help lead the Grand Parade with Magic Hat’s Alan Newman and Mayor Bob Kiss. The event, now in its fifteenth year, will benefit the Women’s Rape Crisis Center.

• If you go, keep in mind: Smart revelers park their cars at Magic Hat HQ on Bartlett Bay Road in South Burlington or Burlington High School and take the free Mardi Gras shuttle into town.

• Buy your beads to throw at the Magic Hat Mardi Gras Headquarters located in the old Maplehurst Florist shop on Church Street in Burlington. Sales benefit the WRCC.

• It’s going to be chilly! Fingerless gloves are best for catching the beads, authentic Louisiana moon pies and Lake Champlain chocolates as they fly from the floats!

• Families with children under 7 years old are welcome to catch the parade from the Little Jambalaya Viewing Zone, on the corner of Main Street and South Winooski.

More Regional Events

(All events take place in Vermont unless otherwise noted.)

Thursday, February 25
Ron Krupp, local author of Lifting the Yoke: Local Solutions to America’s Farm and Food Crisis offers up practical actions for Vermonters.  7 to 9 pm at Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier. Free.

Saturday, February 27
Winter Farmers’ Markets include Middlebury (9 am to 1 pm at the Town Hall Theater), Rutland (10 am to 2 pm at the Old Strand Theater) and Sharon (10 am to 3 pm at the Sharon Elementary School).

Fruit Tree Pruning & Grafting
Todd Parlo of Walden Heights Nursery and Orchard helps orchard owners and backyard gardeners alike get their trees into shape in this hands-on workshop.  9 am to 4 pm at Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury. $15-20 for a half-day of workshops; $25-30 for a full day.

Eating Close to Home – Localvores Take It To the Next Level
Discover the story of three Northeast Kingdom residents who are exploring regional food through season extension with root cellars, extreme gardening and permaculture, and extending CSA boundaries (Community Supported Agriculture) with local meat and dairy products. 10 am to 12 pm at Catamount Arts Center in St. Johnsbury. $5 donation requested.

Localvore Dinner and Live Music
Rich and Laura Atkinson make the melodies at a supper featuring local turkey with cheddar-licious biscuits, Chef Jason’s poutine (it’s killer!)  Root vegetable cassoulet, carrot cake with crème fraîche and more. 5:30 to 9 pm at Applecheek Farm in Hyde Park. $13-26.

Monday, March 1
Slow Food of the Upper Valley meets at 6:15 pm at the NEW Salt Hill Pub in Hanover, New Hampshire. Members and nonmembers are welcome.

Tuesday, March 2
Brown Bag Blueberry Production Workshop and Pruning Demo
Bill Lord, retired UNH Extension professor will talk about site and variety selection and production basics. After lunch, the group will go to Windy Ridge Orchard for a pruning demo and discussion. The workshop is open to beginner and experienced blueberry growers. Bring your lunch, and dress to be outside for about 2 hours. Registration is limited, so call 603.787.6944 to reserve a space. 10 am to 2:30 pm at the Grafton County Administration Building.

Wednesday, March 3
Wild Mushrooms: Part 1, Introduction to Mycology
Learn about poisonous, inedible and other fungi from photos taken by Jane Desotelle. This must be taken before seeing Edible Adirondack Wild Mushrooms next week. 6 to 7:30 pm at Checkerhills Farm Café in Plattsburgh, New York. Cost $10. For more info: underwoodherbs@gmail.com, 518.563.4777.

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