Instead of waiting on permits or asking for City Hall’s blessing, the people decided to go parade. The Hartford Hot Several put out a call on Facebook for participants, whether they play instruments, throw beads, wear costumes, carry puppets, or just walk (or roll) along. The idea was to bring Mardi Gras fun to those at bus stops during evening rush hour.

Being New England, these festivities included features that would not be found in New Orleans, like multiple giant snow banks from which the horn section could play.

Rory Gale of Hartford Prints! opened up the store on Pratt Street for use as a staging area.
Rollerblading with a skeleton on Pratt Street
A brief training session is required to operate a skeleton puppet
J Holt and Hannah Sims rehearse in the back room at Hartford Prints!

 

 

Overheard: “What the hell is this?”                                                                                                                                                                         Flyers explaining the parade were handed out in Downtown.

 

The end of the parade was not exactly the end of the parade.

After refueling, thawing out, and talking with police officers who said they were sorry to have missed the parade, the Hartford Hot Several and others walked down to Black-Eyed Sally’s on Asylum Street, playing intermittently en route. The band was to play a surprise (to the audience) mini-gig while River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs were taking a break between sets. This meant a long wait outside.

Some of the Hartford Hot Several wait in an alley to get the signal that it’s time to enter Black-Eyed Sally’s

 

Hula hooping on stilts while an accordionist plays along

Once inside, the band takes the stage and area in front — too many musicians to fit on one stage.

 

Audience at Black-Eyed Sally’s

 

Not quite time to wrap up, the band and merrymakers drop in at The Hartford Room to play a song for the few patrons hanging out there.
A few members of the Beat City Beauties joined in the parade and later with the Hartford Hot Several at several locations downtown
Welcomed into Laetus on Asylum Street, the band plays a few  more  songs
Wrapping it up as men in suits dance along outside Hartford Prints!