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Helen, Georgia
Helen, Georgia is famous for its authentic Bavarian Style village with buildings that mimic the real thing! They have an awesome Cristkindlmarkt, and Fasching is right up there with fun activities. There are the usual parades, parties, colorful costumes, and craft shows; lots of great German food and drink. Something different that they have here is the tubing parade on the Helen River. It is still pretty cold in Georgia at this time, so there aren’t a lot of people crazy enough to do it. But they still have a parade to the river to cheer on the few who will brave the wet and cold “cruise.”
In Alpine Village of Helen, their biggest event is celebrated on the last night of Fasching with a feast, music, and merriment.
Costumes welcome but not required. Come and enjoy live German music, dancing, and fun!
Finally, there is a Fasching/Mardi Gras Event that takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada. The German American Mardi Gras Association (GAMGA) plan this event. It is celebrated in the tradition of Karneval/Fasching/Mardi Gras where these traditions are passed down to the next generation. The GAMGA Gala is held at a hotel’s ballroom in Las Vegas. The members of GAMGA are volunteers.
The event spans two days, a Friday and Saturday. Friday’s events are basically goofing off day, along with a crowning of a Prinzenpaar is crowned. The audience is attired in Karnival costume and there are skits with amateur performers showing comedy or show dances. Prizes are given for the best costumes.
The Saturday event is more formal—Dinner attire. The attending Karneval groups bring their own Prinzenpaar and they will wear their colorful costumes. This is more like the balls held in Southern Mardi Gras cities. The groups in GAMGA are composed of what the Southerners called Krewes.
There are other places in the US where this fun and fabulous event is being celebrated, some pretty much like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and others with different cultural twists of their own added. However, in every case, the theme is the same. Like a famous quote from a famous TV broadcaster:
“Mardi Gras is the love of life. It is the harmonic convergence of our food, our music, our creativity, our eccentricity, our neighborhoods, and our joy of living. All at once.” — Chris Rose