This weekend saw the colourful sights and lively sounds of Mardi Gras arrive at Alton Towers Resort as this brand-new event got underway, bringing a variety of entertainment and special food options to the theme park.
Key to creating the event’s feel-good atmosphere are the flamboyantly-dressed ‘Krewes’ – teams of around five entertainers that each take inspiration from an area of the theme park. Found on Towers Street in the morning and around park close, and in their home areas during the day, they include the Adventure Krewe (Katanga Canyon), Conservation Krewe (Mutiny Bay), Discovery Krewe (Forbidden Valley), Technology Krewe (X-Sector), and the Voodoo Krewe (Fountain Square). On Towers Street, each Krewe has their own mini stage, and back in their separate areas there are themed ‘static parade floats’ that provide a centrepiece for the periodic dance routines. It seems like this element of the event is the Resort’s response to past comments that event festivities can feel confined to Towers Street, the Front Lawns and the Towers and Fountain Square. It is no doubt that the atmosphere is enhanced by placing a Krewe in all the key areas of the theme park, keeping the party going for guests, wherever they are.
The other key element of the event is the additional food options. Located in front of the Towers themselves, guests can journey down Food Street to experience snacks from around the world. The available stalls include: Yorkshire Pudding wraps, Greek wraps and salads, Chinese noodles and Thai curry, stone-baked pizza, street food wraps, blooming onions and tornado potatoes, and traditional Mardi Gras King Cake. A four-piece band was spotted roaming this area, continuing the festivities in this area. Appropriately-spaced picnic benches have been placed on the grassy areas nearby to provide somewhere for guests to eat their food, however the pathway with the stalls on does get busy, especially over the peak lunch period.
The start of Mardi Gras has also seen the arrival of Sir Algenon’s Time-Travelling Starship on the stage erected on the Front Lawns. Encompassing four shows – Darwin & Eric’s Time Travel Adventure, Darwin & Eric’s Historical Mixup, Time Architects – Birth of Soul, & Time Architects – Takin it to the Streets – the line-up has a similar format to the family entertainment seen at Scarefest. The inventor-explorer, Sir Algenon, is joined on adventures by friends including Darwin the Dodo, Eric the Yeti, Fin the Shark, new character Rusty the Robot and returning favourite Squirrel Nutty! Live vocalists feature in the ‘Time Architects’ shows, bringing more party vibes with them. It is pleasing to see the Resort continuing to add to their roster of entertainment in the theme park, providing guests with something to do in-between rides. It is unclear whether these shows are specific to Mardi Gras, or if they will continue through the rest of the season until Scarefest, although we assume that if they are only for the event, then there will be other entertainment in their place in the coming months.
Decorations have been added around the theme park to transform it for Mardi Gras. On Towers Street, the super-size cake makes a return sporting event-appropriate colours, items featuring the Mardi Gras Fleur de Lis adorn the lampposts, and inflatable mascots wave to guests upon arrival and departure. There is also bunting-a-plenty throughout Towers Street, the Front Lawns, Food Street and up around the Towers. Banners for each of the Krewes have also been hung on the front of the Towers themselves.
Mardi Gras is running every day through to Sunday 20th June. The theme park is currently open until 7pm on 29th May – 6th June and 12th June, 6pm on 13th, 19th and 20th June, and 4pm on all other dates. Having stayed open until 8pm during the first few weekends of the season, it was perhaps a surprise to not see this continue during peak dates whilst the event is on – the Resort’s original references to guests being able to experience the theme park’s attractions as the sun goes down have therefore now been removed. Nonetheless, the event still provides the explosion of colour and sound that it said it was going to, and is another welcome addition to the Resort’s line-up of events.
Have you got a visit planned to the Resort during Mardi Gras? Is there a food option you’re looking forward to trying? Which Krewe is your favourite? Have your say over on the Attraction Source Forum.
