Attention Pietons: It's Mardi Gras Time in Clarendon!

Clear your calendars for the evening of Tuesday, February 24, and make tracks to one of America's Great Streets for the annual Clarendon Mardi Gras Parade!  Sponsored by the Clarendon Alliance, the parade combines colorful floats built by local residents and music by area musicians to create a festive, fun-filled atmosphere suitable for the entire family. 

The Clarendon Mardi Gras parade begins at 8:00 p.m., but why not come earlier, enjoy a fine repast at one of the many restaurants lining the Wilson Boulevard parade route, and secure your spot along either side of Wilson Boulevard?  The route runs from Court House (Adams Street) to Clarendon (Clarendon Circle), so take your pick. And some Clarendon businesses are offering Mardi Gras specials to sweeten the deal!

This year's line-up includes the inimitable Ballou High School Marching Band and scores of other floats and conveyances.  Be on the look-out for the WALKArlington Crewe, pushing decorated pedestrian shopping carts (the latest in urban walking accessories!) filled to overflowing with beads, candy, and WALKArlington give-aways to toss to parade watchers! We'll be easy to spot, right behind the BikeArlington/Phoenix Bikes Crewe of 20-some bicycles, to complete our Car-Free Diet parade contingent!

And in the car-free spirit of going green... if you have some beads from past years' parades that you want to donate/recycle for tossing in 2009, just call the Clarendon Alliance at 703-812-8881 or drop them off at Java Shack (2507 N. Franklin Road) or the Clarendon Alliance office, 2531 Wilson Boulevard.

And when the Mardi Gras parade ends (around 8:30 p.m.), why not head to your favorite Clarendon nightspot to continue the party?  As they say in the Big Easy, laissez les bon temps rouler! 

And when Mardi Gras ends, don't despair!  We'll roll out news of more good walking times ahead in the March issue of the Pacer!