Residents of the City of La Porte would have thought they were in the heart of New Orleans on Saturday night, as community members gathered at the La Porte Civic Auditorium for the Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball. Mayor Mark Krentz hosted the event as a way to celebrate the city’s accomplishments.
“This night is an annual celebration of the aspects of the city that are beautiful and wonderful,” Krentz said. “My wife and I are very proud to be able to throw a big party like this for the city, especially being lifelong residents of La Porte ourselves; we want everyone to come out and just have a good time!”
This year’s lively Mardi Gras theme was apparent, with many guests sporting Mardi Gras beads and eccentric masks. The celebration was a huge hit among guests, as they were treated to delicious Hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and upbeat musical entertainment by the band SushiRoll, who made an appearance at the event for the second year in a row. Many guests also took advantage of the photo booth that was set up as they posed with silly hats, masks, and signs.
In many ways, the night was seen as a celebration of the state of the city address, which took place just the night before, coincidentally in the exact same location.
“Last night, the mayor shared all the excitement around various initiatives that are helping to grow the community,” La Porte community member Craig Menne said. “Tonight is more of a celebration of all those things, as well as an opportunity to provide our support for the nonprofits that are beneficiaries of the evening. Ultimately, it’s a good sign of the wonderful, vibrant community we have going here in La Porte.”
All proceeds from the night will be used to benefit various charitable organizations within the community.
“Last year I selected six different organizations to be the beneficiaries of the night,” Krentz said. “I will likely do something similar this year.”
The evening was filled with endless energetic vibes, with guests flooding the dance floor the moment SushiRoll took the stage. Mayor Krentz was right in the midst of the dancing crowd, a sign of his signature laid back nature that La Porte residents cannot get enough of.
“He’s very down to earth and fun, but also incredibly knowledgeable,” said Mechelle Conrad, who attended the event with her daughter. “I love that about him, we really do have a great mayor here in La Porte!”
A classic blend of elegance and lighthearted entertainment, the Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball was a rousing success for all who attended.
