Get Your Umbrellas Ready
For Mardi Gras! Galveston's Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade World Record Attempt Coming February 10th
[January 11, 2012] - Mardi Gras! Galveston Umbrella Brigade participants have been challenged to beat a new world record for the largest choreographed umbrella dance during the 101st Mardi Gras! Galveston on Friday, February 10, 2012.
A group in Romania recently beat Mardi Gras! Galveston’s 2011 Guinness Book of World Records title for the largest umbrella dance with 1,461 people in September 2011. The Mardi Gras! Galveston Umbrella Brigade set the first record with 492 participants on February 25, 2011.
This year’s umbrella dancers hope to break the Romania record with another five-minute performance to the Hokey Pokey during the Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade parade in Galveston’s historic downtown on Friday, Feb. 10 at 8:30 p.m.
More individuals, groups and organizations are needed to get funky with the Uptown Umbrella Brigade on opening night of Mardi Gras! Galveston. People interested in participating in Galveston’s 2012 Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade should register online at www.mardigrasgalveston.com.
All costumed participants will receive FREE entry into the Entertainment District with their decorated umbrella. The procession will begin at 20th street between Mechanic & Strand and hokey pokey their way through the district. All participants must come with a mandatory decorated umbrella.
Mardi Gras, the traditional festival of feasting and merrymaking that precedes the season of Lent, was first publicly observed on Galveston Island in 1867. Following a sabbatical imposed in 1941 by war and challenging times, Mardi Gras! Galveston was revived in 1985 by Galveston-born preservationist and developer George P. Mitchell.
The largest celebration of its kind in Texas, and the third largest in the nation, the event has grown in cultural creativity and imagination, showcasing lavish parades, galas worthy of royalty, original artwork, children’s activities and delicious Gulf Coast cuisine.
Still led by Galvestonians and their respective krewes, the grandeur is evident in the dueling parades that range from whimsical daytime processionals to elaborate night parades offering dramatic flair. The streets come to life with parade viewers shouting for beads, lively tunes played by the colorful marching bands, and the infectious merriment that dominates the island for two full weeks.
During Mardi Gras! Galveston, hotel availability is limited and guests should reserve rooms at the earliest convenience. Visit www.mardigrasgalveston.com for a complete schedule of events and more information.
For Additional Information, Media Are Invited to Contact:
Leah Cast
Public Relations Manager
Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau
Direct: (409)682-3029 lcast@galvestoncvb.com
About Galveston Island...
Galveston Island is a historic beach town located on the Gulf of Mexico just 50 miles from Houston. The island is best known as a vacation destination, offering 32 miles of beaches, a variety of family attractions, Texas’ premier cruise port and one of the largest and well-preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country. For more information on Galveston Island visit www.galveston.com or call 1-888-GAL-ISLE.
About Galveston.com & Company... Galveston.com & Company, Inc. is a destination marketing corporation based in Galveston, Texas. The company specializes in destination portals, as well as online lodging, cruise, parking, and transportation reservations; and event ticketing via its proprietary DestinationNext module.
For more information, contact Galveston.com & Company at via phone (409)763-8676 or email at websites@galveston.com.
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