Mardi Gras Monarchy

Costume, colour and carnival spirit

Have you got what it takes to join the Hastings Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Monarchy? Hastings Fat Tuesday means colour, costume, creativity and carnival spirit in abundance, and in all of these, our Mardi Gras Monarchy leads the way, including literally leading the hugely popular Umbrella Parade. Hannah Collison writes.

Now it’s your chance to show what you’re made of by getting in character and putting yourself forward for the 2018 Mardi Gras Monarchy. The competition opens on Thursday 21 December 2017.

King, Queen, Knave and Slut sought!

There are four non-gender specific roles up for grabs: The King, The Queen, The Knave and The Slut, who will be at the forefront of the UK’s largest Mardi Gras celebration. Duties will include leading the Umbrella Parade and representing Hastings Fat Tuesday at spin-off events.

Apply online describing how you plan to unleash your inner carnival spirit – and share your Mardi Gras Manifesto! There is also the option to submit a short video (max 30 seconds) on why you have what it takes to be Mardi Gras King / Queen / Knave / Slut. Contestants may apply for one character only.

The four winners will each receive a coveted Passport to Hastings & St Leonards, entitling them to a plethora of gifts and freebies from across our great town.

Entries will be considered by the Hastings Fat Tuesday team and those shortlisted will go forward to a public vote via the Hastings Fat Tuesday Facebook page, where contestants will be whittled down to three finalists for each character.

The final decision on the 2018 Mardi Gras Monarchy will be made via a live ballot vote on the night of the Mardi Gras Grand Ball (Saturday 10 February 2018 at St Mary in the Castle).

Applications should be made online at Hastings Fat Tuesday. Applications close at midnight on Saturday 6 January, otherwise known as Twelfth Night, when the carnival season traditionally gets underway.

King’s Night

Another name for the Twelfth Night is ‘Kings Night’, and the Hastings Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Monarchy is inspired by the historical tradition of the Twelfth Night Cake or ‘King Cake’, whereby a ‘King’ and other characters would be allocated by dividing a cake containing tokens.

Adam Daly, co-founder and organiser of Hastings Fat Tuesday, said: “Each year the town wholeheartedly embraces Hastings Fat Tuesday and everything it stands for, and we’re now inviting those keen to fully unleash their carnival spirit to apply for the 2018 Mardi Gras Monarchy. Let your imaginations run wild!”

Fat Tuesday Festival

Now in its ninth year, Hastings Fat Tuesday Music Festival (9 – 13 February 2018), is the UK’s largest Mardi Gras celebration which opens its doors to a wealth of local, national and international music talent and music fans alike.

In New Orleans and Rio they call it Mardi Gras, in Venice it’s known as Carnivale and Hastings has Fat Tuesday, the English translation of for Mardi Gras). Hasting Fat Tuesday borrows heavily from the New Orleans take on Mardi Gras, combining the enjoyment of good music, a flair for dressing up and partying.

In 2017 the festival drew an audience of 11,000 over the five days!

Also in: One Long Party