Collegiate Times

Hand Grenades are on of the staples of Mardi Gras beverages.

Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday,” a celebration marking the last day of indulgence before the Lenten season begins. To most college students, it’s an excellent excuse to drink and become a slight exhibitionist without feeling much remorse.

For junior aerospace engineering major Lauren Jean Bradberry, this year is only the second time she hasn’t been celebrating with friends and family on Bourbon Street. According to the Louisiana native, the true Mardi gras experience is one that is very particular to New Orleans.

Bradberry, who covets the holiday even over Christmas, recalls past Mardi Gras experiences.

“One of my favorite parts are the parades,” she said. “The floats are so extravagant; they blow your mind.”

Bourbon Street is transformed into a sea of purple, green and gold, with party goers decked out almost as much as the floats.

“Pretty much anything goes,” Bradberry said. “People wearing crazy hats, feather boas or people just painted walking around the streets.”

Regardless of the costume choice, every person is seen with a huge green drink called a “hand grenade,” a festive mixture of five different types of alcohol.

“If you go on Bourbon Street, you have to get a hand grenade,” Bradberry said.

Along with the traditional drinks, Mardi Gras food choices are heavy with Cajun tradition. Gumbos, jambalaya and fried fish are among the most popular menu items along Bourbon Street, especially during the festival.

“Everyone just wants to get in touch with their Cajun side,” Bradberry said.

As a tradition, Bradberry and her family make king cakes every year, a colorful dessert that traditionally has a trinket inside. Although Bradberry plans to celebrate with friends in Blacksburg, her family has helped bring part of the holiday to the New River Valley.

“My mom FedEx’d me a king cake,” Bradberry said.

As a senior finance major, Sean Pennington realized that this year would be the last he could go down to New Orleans to experience Mardi Gras first-hand.

“I can’t really jump out of a job to go, so why not do it the last time I can while I’m in school?” Pennington said.

Making the 12-hour drive with Ryan Flynn, a senior hospitality and tourism management major, the two plan to stay with a friend who lives in New Orleans.

“The spontaneity of going down there is awesome,” Pennington said. “I know it’s going to be ridiculous.”

Only letting academics marginally interfere with their festivities, the two seniors plan to return Wednesday after the whirlwind trip.

“I have an exam Thursday morning, so we have to get back,” Pennington said.

For Tech students who can’t make the trip down to New Orleans, Blacksburg offers plenty of options for Cajun-inspired festivities despite the call for more snow on Tuesday night. Painted bodies may be a rarity in snowy Blacksburg for Fat

Tuesday, but students who want to celebrate in style can find beads, masks and other Mardi Gras attire at Party Central on South Main.

For the evening, drink specials at Boudreaux’s will include half-off hurricanes, and Awful Arthur’s will be hosting DJ Dirty Wake and is free for anyone 21 and up.

Down Main Street, Hokie House will giving out beads, hats and masks at its door in addition to having a DJ upstairs and additional specials on hurricanes.

Although Main Street will be no comparison to Bourbon Street on Tuesday, students can still celebrate Mardi Gras by warming up with a hurricane, competing for beads and relishing in the spirit of the legendary festival.

“Mardi Gras is a celebration of just life,” Bradberry said. “Everyone is just so happy.”

A version of this article appeared in the Feb 16 issue of the Collegiate Times.