On Sunday, February 25, 2025, Venice Beach witnessed the vibrant and spirited Annual Mardi Gras Parade along its famous boardwalk, led by Marky Lennon, crowned as King, and Jeffrey Banks, the King Consort, alongside the lively tunes of the Beaucoup Brass Band. This event continues Venice's long-standing tradition of Mardi Gras celebrations, a legacy that traces back to its inception in 1935.
The Venice Mardi Gras Festival initially took place from August 16-18, 1935, inspired by the New Orleans Mardi Gras. It featured a grand opening with King Neptune arriving by outrigger canoe, the coronation of Queen Venetia, and a royal procession along Ocean Front Walk. The proclamation by the queen marked the beginning of three days filled with parades, costume contests, and entertainment, embodying the spirit of fun and revelry. Highlights from the early years included majestic floats, participants donning enormous plaster of Paris heads crafted in Arthur Reese's studio, and a street carnival on Windward Avenue, complete with gondoliers and Keystone Cops adding to the festive atmosphere.
The event quickly grew in popularity and scale, evolving into a significant annual festival that drew crowds in the hundreds of thousands before World War II. The expanded four-day celebration by 1941 included a treasure hunt for children, aquatic events, the Miss California beauty pageant, and a grand Mardi Gras Ball, all contributing to a burgeoning sense of civic pride and community engagement.
Venice's Mardi Gras Festival has stood as a testament to the community's commitment to celebrating culture, history, and the arts. For those interested in delving deeper into Venice's rich history, Jeffrey Stanton's website offers extensive insights into the past festivals and the evolution of this beloved event.