Upcoming Events & Fundraisers
Saturday January 12
Italian Cultural &Community Center, 1101 Milford, 7 - 11 PM
$20 at the door
Krewe Contributions
Each year, the Krewe selects several charities to support throughout the year. We have several major fundraisers, a sponsorship program, and a floor collection at our Mardi Gras Ball. In the past five years, we have donated over $105,000 to charitable activities benefiting our community. The 2001/2002 designated charities, are:
We raise a substantial portion of our money through fundraising socials. We do five or so of these throughout the year. Timing and theme of the events is decided by our Fundraising Captain and the fundraising committee. Typically, members are needed to assist in decorating, collecting admission at the door, selling tickets, and tending bar. We have two major fundraisers in addition to the Mardi Gras Ball -- the Fais do do Cajun Dinner, usually in October of each year, and the 12th Night Party, celebrating the beginning of Carnival Season in January of each year.
We also participate actively in the annual Pride Celebrations in Houston and, to a lesser degree, in Dallas. Generally we will build and enter a float in the Houston Pride Parade. The Krewe has won numerous trophies for its parade entries in the pride parade. The Dallas Pride parade occurs in late September. We generally will have an entry in the parade, although it often is not possible to transport the Houston entry to Dallas. In both parades, members carry and throw beads and cups, which can be bought through the Krewe. Also, as a fundraising activitiy, Krewe members generally set up booths to sell beads during the weeks immediately prior to the Pride Parades. Selling beads has become a major source of revenue for the Krewe, and we always need members to assist.
Our major activity is the annual Mardi Gras Ball, described below .
Mardi Gras Ball
Generally, the ball is scheduled in late January or early to mid-February, depending on the date for Mardi Gras day. Ball XXXI will be held on February 10, 2001. It's difficult to completely describe a ball if you haven't seen one. Our ball is called a "tableau" ball; it consists of a series of presentations of costumes organized around a theme. There are individual costume presentations (which we call "major costumes") and group presentations, which we generally refer to as choruses. Usually, the ball theme is kept a secret until invitations go out.
Admission to the ball is by invitation only, and there is no charge for attending. Each Krewe member is entitled by the bylaws to 10 invitations. Guests must wear formal attire (tux for men and for women dressed in male attire; formal dress for women and men dressed in female attire).
There are photos of our most recent ball in the Photo Gallery
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