Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp 2012

Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp returns on Fat Tuesday, February 21, 2012 from 6:00 PM to Midnight and will transform over 16 blocks of the Gaslamp Quarter into the biggest Mardi Gras celebration on the west coast! The streets will come alive with the hottest DJs, four stages, six elaborate areas, outlandish performances, masquerade parade and more. Come join over 35,000 revelers as they party in the streets and partake in all of this Mardi Gras merriment!

Hang tight to your friends as you wander down “E” Street into the Voodoo Grounds, where you will be surrounded by voodoo dancers and music coming from every direction as Mardi Gras’ favorite dance crew creates an interactive Mardi Gras Flash Mob dance experience. The Gaslamp Quarter will pay homage to its roots as it changes back into the days of Madame Cora with an enticing Red Light District along “F” Street. The streets will come alive with splashes of red color and intrigue guests to enter with its impressive DJ line-up and alluring entertainment. Outrageous and interactive entertainers reminiscent of good ol’ New Orleans will take over “G” Street to activate the Cirque Noir area. Club Rio at the  intersection at Market Street and 5th Avenue will light up the night sky with its aerial lighting projections and dynamic staging. Watch your step as you enter The Sideshow area on Island Avenue as you will be greeted by outrageous stilt walkers roaming the streets morphed into crazy circus characters and animals that will interact with the crowd. With all of these exciting and tantalizing blocks of entertainment, make sure to travel all the way down Fifth Avenue to “K” Street to the popular Electric City area with some of the biggest names in electronic music performing. The DJ stage will put you into a trance with its display of LED screens projecting vibrant images pulsating to the beat of the music.

Don’t miss out on the revelry and debauchery brought on by the highlight of Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp. Fifth Avenue will transform into Bourbon Street with one outrageous masquerade parade at 9:30 PM with the biggest floats, most outrageous entertainment, celebrity guests and unbelievable surprises. Spectators will flood the streets to collect as many beads as they can from dozens of lively parade entries and energetic costumed revelers traveling down the parade route!

Tickets to this Mardi Gras madness are only $20 dollars in advance and $25 at the door; attendees must be 21 years or older and have a valid photo ID to enter. Club VIP tickets, hotel and dinner packages are also available. Proceeds will go to the Gaslamp Quarter Association, which markets the Gaslamp Quarter  all year round.  The Gaslamp Quarter Association would like to thank the following event partners; Shock Top Belgian-Style Wheat Ale, Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, Hotel Palomar San Diego, Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, Dick’s Last Resort, AT&T YellowPages.com, The Costume Shop, and North County Transit District.