Cajun Muddy Gras is coming to Muddy Bottoms Feb. 19-22, and is expected to be a big event with plenty of family-friendly events taking place.
Kim Cannon, marketing director for Muddy Bottoms ATV and Recreation Park, says Friday evening, a king cake eating contest will take place around 7 p.m. and is expected to be a lot of fun. On Saturday, a wheelers parade will take place where participants can decorate their ATVs Mardi Gras style and throw beads just like a traditional Mardi Gras parade.
“We’ll have a top prize for that one,” she said.
The cake contest will be at the pavilion with the wheelers parade beginning at the splash park.
The park will open Thursday at 10 a.m. so people can come in to set up and acclimate to the park.
“It’s the muddiest party for Mardi Gras, and with it being the first one, it’s going to be big,” she said. “This is also our first event for 2015. It’s a good family event too, because there’s a lot of family-oriented events we have planned.”
A gumbo cook-off will be featured Saturday night where the public will be able to purchase tickets and judge the gumbo. The winner will receive a People’s Choice award.
Following the cook-off will be Grammy award-winning Zydeco legend Wayne Toups in concert.
“We’re expecting it to be a pretty big event,” she said.
The schedule of events is as follows:
Thursday, Feb. 19: Park opens at 10 a.m.
Friday, Feb. 20: from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m., registration for all events at the pro shop, king cake-eating competition at the pavilion at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 21: from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., registration for the gumbo cook-off at the pro shop, from noon until 12:45 p.m., Parade of Wheelers line up at the splash park, 1 p.m., Parade of Wheelers, 7 p.m.: gumbo cook-off and tasting at the pavilion, 8:30 p.m. caravan to the amphitheater, and at 10 p.m. Wayne Toups in concert at the amphitheater. Parade of Wheelers best in show and gumbo winners will also be announced at this time.
Sunday: Feb. 22: Gates close at 5 p.m.
Firearms checked in must be picked up by 2 p.m. at the Welcome Center.
Pro shop hours are from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday and from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Sunday.
Bathhouse opens at 1 p.m. Thursday and closes at 2 p.m. Sunday.