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The Marengo County Historical Society’s annual Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball will be held on Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. at Lyon Hall. Attendees may wear costumes or semi-formal clothing, but masks are required.

The ball will include hors d’ouevres with a Cajun flair, BYOB with set-ups provided, live music and the crowning of a Mardi Gras Court consisting of a King, Queen, Duke, Duchess and two Jesters.

The dance will be in the cinder-block barn on the west lawn with live music provided by cover band Bryan Yeager, Mikey, & Jeremy.

“The type of music that they play is just about anything,” said Kirk Brooker, operations director of MCHS.

According Brooker costumes are just as popular as semi-formal wear, with some being ornate and others being simple pieces. Brooker also said some costumes are themed while others are old formal wear that has been “doctored up.”

“Some of them have really gone all out,” Brooker said.

While masks can be purchased anywhere, such as the Canebrake Craft Corner, the historical society welcomes hand-made costumes and masks. They take that creativity into consideration while choosing members of the Mardi Gras Court.

“We recognize the effort they put into the costumes by giving them a title,” Brooker said.

Chairperson for the Masquerade Ball Kathy Owings, said that the event, which is expected to have around 150 guests, is “always a really fun time for everybody in the community to get together.”

Brooker said that the music, food, atmosphere and decorations make the event enjoyable for everyone.

“It is one of the most fun parties of the year, and that’s just the honest truth.”

Tickets are available starting Feb. 1 at the Canebrake Craft Corner for $20.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, January 30 issue of the Demopolis Times.)