Jazz Fest Bluesman to headline Mardi Pardi Triathlon music lineup
20 Jan
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss., Jan. 20, 2011–Legendary New Orleans music icon Walter “Wolfman” Washington will play the 100 Men Hall in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, as part of the Mardi Pardi Triathlon and 5K Run two-day music festival. A regular at Jazz Fest, Wolfman offers soulful vocals and searing guitar in a unique mix of blues, funk and R&B.
Wolfman will play at 8 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 18, at the 100 Men Hall. Tickets are $18 for the general public and $10 for race participants. Cornell Williams (lately seen on Treme), John Gros and Zena Moses will play on Sat. at the post-race “After Pardi” held on the Depot Green at the historic train depot in Bay St. Louis. Jeremy Mojo Phipps and Lagniappe will lead a traditional second line. Mikey B3 followed by Star and Micey will play the pre-Pardi at the Mockingbird on Fri., Feb. 17, beginning at 6 p.m. Mississippi Fred G will also play during the weekend, time to be announced.
This year’s event promises a full weekend of New Orleans musical talent, as well as running, kayaking and biking served up with plenty of great, local food, beer and, of course, a Mardi Gras parade! Come out and set a personal goal to run, paddle and let the good times roll!
Race Details
The race will start at 9 a.m. on Sat., Feb. 18, at the Washington St. Pier on S. Beach Blvd. in Bay St. Louis, Miss. The triathlon is a 2-mile kayak in the calm waters of the Mississippi Sound along the Gulf of Mexico paired with a 5k run and 12-mile bike ride along the beach road from Bay St. Louis to Waveland. The race can be completed either as a 5K run or as a triathlon solo or relay race. See www.MardiPardiAdventure.org for details and to register
Participants are encouraged to wear their Mardi Gras “racing best” for the Mardi Pardi multi-prize costume contest on the day of the race. And, racers can attend the Pass Parade on Sunday where they will have a reserved location from which to watch the parade.
Registration for the event is $25 for the individual 5K run, $50 for the individual triathlon and $60 per three-person, triathlon relay team. In addition to the race itself, the cost includes food, beverages and music at both the pre-race and post-race parties and a specially designed 100% organic cotton race t-shirt. Unique Mardi Gras-themed awards will be given to the winners in multiple age and gender categories. For more information about the race or to register online, visit www.MardiPardiAdventure.org or www.gulfcoastrunningclub.org.
Kayaks are available for rental in advance of the race. Contact Bay Breeze at (228) 466-3333 or Todd Read of Da Beach House at islandbayoutfitters@yahoo.com
or 228.547.0085. For race questions, contact Leonard Vergunst of the Gulf Coast Running Club at director@gulfcoastrunningclub.org.
Mardi Gras Parade
Finally, for all those racers and friends who want to get a real close-up Mardi Gras experience, the Mardi Pardi will provide a reserved spot along the parade route of the Pass Christian Mardi Gras Parade that takes place Sunday, February 19th. Beer and bathrooms provided!
“Last year’s Mardi Pardi, the first ever, was fantastic,” said Marcie Baria, a member of the LOAM board of directors and one of the event organizers. “We are thrilled that we can offer a triathlon this year and are so excited about our great music line-up. It is going to be a rockin’ event and a great way for everybody to celebrate Mardi Gras. We have something for everyone.”
Shopathlon
If running isn’t your style, give the Mardi Pardi Shopathlon a go. Your race card entitles you to fun freebies at a variety of quaint shops and restaurants in Bay St. Louis’s Old Town and Depot District. A $200 gift card good at one of the listed businesses will go to the 12th Shopathlon racer at one of the stores.
About Hancock County, Mississippi
Hancock County, Mississippi, is a unique, Gulf Coast eco-tourism destination with public beaches and piers, fishing, boating, water sports and miles of public greenways and blueways that open its rivers, shoreline and marshes to hikers, runners, bikers, paddlers and birdwatchers from across the region and around the world.
Proceeds from the Mardi Pardi race will benefit the Live Oak Alliance of Mississippi (LOAM), a nonprofit environmental group created in Hancock County, Mississippi, to foster economic prosperity and enhance the area’s quality of life by coordinating community-wide green programs and nature tourism. LOAM is a fund of the Hancock Community Development Foundation, a 501c3 non profit charity, and the donation less benefits received is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information, visit www.liveoakalliance.com.
Race Sponsors
The Mardi Pardi Eco Adventure Race weekend is currently sponsored by the Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, Silver Slipper, Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co., Peoples Bank, Coast Electric, American Canoe Association/Canoe-Kayak-SUP-Raft-Rescue, Rex Distributing Co., David Baria State Representative, Dominos RPM Pizza, Hollywood Casino, AdLib Communications, Bay Breeze, Coast Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Da Beach House, Gulf Coast Running Club, Rainbow Water, Rex Distributors, Sea Coast Echo, Southern Graphics, Total Body and WLOX.
The organizers of the Mardi Pardi Eco Adventure Race invite local restaurants to showcase a dish at the after-race party. Individuals and businesses can still sponsor the event through monetary and in-kind donations and will be recognized during the race events and in all attendant publicity. If you would like to donate a dish or become a sponsor, please contact Stephen Burrell at 228.342.5660 or asjburrell@yahoo.com or Marcie Fyke Baria at marcie.baria@gmail.com.
Media contacts:
Marcie Fyke Baria
601.918.0658
marcie.baria@gmail.com.
Lisa Eveleigh
919.265.4526
Lgeveleigh@gmail.com
Jenny Bell
228.342.2503
adlib@bellsouth.net
###
