Two Muncie Gras Costume Contests!

Muncie Gras 2011 will be held March 19th, 2011- 7pm-2am in the Streets of Downtown Muncie! This will be our 10th Anniversary Celebration!

Get started on your costumes NOW! Costumed revelers can compete two ways this year - one contest for the best Mardi Gras costume, mask or headpiece and a second contest for the most eco-friendly costume! This one will be judged on most stylish use for recycled materials.

In traditional Mardi Gras celebrations, costumes and outfits were always associated with the celebration. On their most basic level, traditional Mardi Gras costumes served as symbols of celebration: a chance to throw off the shackles of ordinary life and acknowledge the spirit of the proceedings. More specifically, they often emulated the costumes of authority figures, as a way of mocking or poking fun at them.

Traditional Mardi Gras colors are purple, gold and green, and Mardi Gras costumes often feature them prominently. Tradition holds that Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff chose the colors--symbolic of his house--while visiting New Orleans in 1872. Purple represents Justice; Green represents Faith; Gold represents Power.

Traditional Mardi Gras costumes also symbolize excess, so they feature prominent accessories such as jewels, feathers and
beads. The latter are often worn around the neck or tossed from balconies by revelers.