“Do you know the best part about Mardi Gras in New Orleans?” asks Ryan Flanery, co-organizer of Saturday’s Historic Uptown Block Party. “The community.”
The Historic Uptown neighborhood is set to welcome back the 10th edition of its annual Mardi Gras-themed event Saturday at 2 p.m., on the 700 block of 5th Street N in St. Petersburg.
Though best-associated with New Orleans, Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a holiday that dates back more than a thousand years. Since the season of Lent involves sacrificing treats as well as abstaining from meat, people would rush to consume anything they couldn’t eat before Ash Wednesday.
From left, Denielle Kennett, unknown, Joe Kennett and Jess Flanery.
Complete with live music, Uptown’s block party (held as always on Saturday, in deference to working families) will provide just such an opportunity to celebrate. Food will be provided by Bayou Catering, which specializes in Cajun cuisine, and will be available for a small donation.
For parents with pickier eaters, there is pizza available free of charge – though donations are always welcome, notes co-organizer Denielle Kennett. Drinks are BYOB.
While a community event, Kennett emphasized that it’s open to all-comers no matter where they live. She’s helped run the block party the last several years, on the very street where she lives.
“We close off the street, so it’s very kid-friendly, dog-friendly, and family-friendly,” said Kennett. There will be a bounce house, toys, and yard games like cornhole and bucket toss; last year, there was even a between-sets appearance by a kids’ band.
For Flanery. the event is an opportunity to get “a little bit of Mardi Gras – and a little bit of New Orleans – in St. Pete.”
“The Mardi Gras block party started back in 2017,” explained Flanery. “My parents had just moved to the Uptown neighborhood. I spent years working in and around New Orleans after Katrina, and I fell in love with the city, the people, and the culture.
“Over in St. Pete, we don’t really celebrate Gasparilla so much, so I was like, ‘Hey, we should do something related to Mardi Gras.’ And it just so happened I was sitting out on [his parents’] porch one day and I went, ‘You know, this kind of reminds me of New Orleans.’ And it just went from there.”
Not long after, Flanery made his own home in Uptown. He and his wife Jess, who also founded and co-organizes the event, were even married during the 2020 block party at the adjacent Round Lake Park. Wedding guests processed to the block party, which served as their reception, accompanied by the Gibbs High School Second Line.
While the block party is a labor of love, the organizers are not planning any Valentine’s Day tie-ins. Organizers note that the area has several shops and restaurants that visitors can explore.
As for advice, Kennett’s is simple (and applicable to virtually every outdoor festivity on the Suncoast): “Bring a chair,” she said with a smile. “And a cooler with beverages.”