Saturday's Shiner Ball Kicks off Mardi Gras Carnival Season in Lake Wales

With only days remaining until the peak of the zany season, the Lake Wales Mardi Gras kicks off this weekend with the annual Shiner Ball, hosted by the "Loyal Order of Wild Shiners." The party is billed as a gathering of their unique group, named after the popular bait fish, at "the Center of the Universe."

Robert Connors

A float bearing "Wild Shiners" rolls through the streets of Lake Wales during the annual Lake Wales Mardi Gras festival. The Loyal Order of Wild Shiners is a 41-year-old organization that will be hosting their annual "Blacklight Ball" this Saturday. Tickets are available at the door.

Lake Wales Mardi Gras is a tradition in Lake Wales, now in its fifth decade. The festival features a two day music festival, numerous private and public celebrations, and a parade featuring the creative art, floats, and costumes assembled by more than a dozen parading "krewes."

The 7 p.m. kick-off party is open to the public, with tickets priced at $20 per person or $45 per couple, in keeping with the upside-down season of Carnival. The festivities will take place under an array of black lights on Saturday, February 22 at the Grove House Grill, 1475 North Scenic Hwy, Babson Park.

The Mardi Gras ramps up on Friday, March 31 with the start of a two-day free music festival on the shores of Lake Wailes that lasts until 10 p.m. Featuring a dozen popular bands, the event continues during the day and evening on Saturday, pausing only for the 3 p.m. start of the Mardi Gras Parade, which steps off downtown before winding it's way along Park Avenue, Scenic Highway, Stuart Avenue, First Street and Central Avenue.

The parade is a popular highlight, with colorful floats, costumes, and music. Crowds scramble to catch a share of more than 100,000 souvenir "throws" cast by krewe members.

The entire festival ends with closing parties on "Fat Tuesday," which is the English translation of Mardi Gras, which falls on March 4. March 5 is the commencement of the somber Lenten season on the Christian calendar.