The Franco Center will present another unique, festive and must-experience event with its offering of “Mardi Gras in L/A” at 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 18 in the center’s Heritage Hall. In the tradition of New Orleans, Mardi Gras audiences will be treated to Cajun cuisine, spirits and music.

As many know, Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday” en Francais. However, this holiday has a much wider historical and international appeal beyond the Francophone diaspora. Traditionally, Mardi Gras is the last decadent or “fat” feast before the fasting that often accompanies the season of Lent.

The Franco Center takes this as a serious endeavor and, for several years, has presented the most notable Mardi Gras celebrations in the Lewiston-Auburn area. This year will be no exception!

Chef Edmond, “Directeur des Andouilles et des Cornichons” at the Franco Center, has an amazing meal planned of traditional New Orleans cuisine, including Crab Gumbo, Jumbalaya, New Orleans Ratatouille, Andouilles with Onions and Peppers, Truffled Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoes and the crowning dish, a King & Queen Cake.

There will be ample amounts of classic New Orleans libations, like the legendary Hurricane, to help you forget the impending fast.

Of course, no Mardi Gras party is complete without some foot-stomping, street-shaking, soul-stirring music. To help get in the proper mood for celebrating, local favorites the Blues Buzzards will provide the rompin’, stompin’  mix of tunes by Eric Clapton, Ray Charles, T Bone Walker, Van Morrison, Elvis, The Beatles, and countless others. This group, led by veteran guitar man Earl Bigelow, is dipped in the blues, has heaps of horns and knows how to fatten up a Tuesday—or Saturday, as the case may be.

Tickets are $20 in advance; call 689.2000 or see www.francocenter.org

To buy tickets for this event, see https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/223484. For General Box Office and Ticket Information, please visit: http://www.francocenter.org/box-office-info. The Franco Center is at 46 Cedar Street, Lewiston.