Mardi Gras

Win a seat on a new Allegiant Air flight to New Orleans

Contests, ,

king_cake

Allegiant Air is holding two fun contests to celebrate the launch of new services to New Orleans.

The first is a King Cake Eating Contest and Lucky Bead contest on Wednesday, February 4 at Cincinnati/Northern Kentury International Airport.

The winner of the King Cake eating contest will be the person who finds the plastic baby baked inside their cake. That person will get two round trip tickets on the first flight to New Orleans and a hotel stay at Saint James Hotel New Orleans from February 4 – February 7, 2015. 

A random drawing will decide the winner of the Lucky Bead Contest and that person will win two round trip tickets on a future flight to New Orleans.

Details on how to enter the contest are listed here.

Blackpool SuitcaseArrives

To celebrate Allegiant Air service between New Orleans and Indianapolis International Airport, there’s a “pack your bags” contest on February 5. The prize: 2 roundtrip tickets on the inaugural flights from IND to New Orleans and a three night hotel stay at the Holiday Inn Metairie New Orleans Airport Hotel.

Each contestant who shows up at the airport with bags packed will receive one entry into a random drawing for the prize, but contestants who arrive at the airport dressed in their Mardi Gras best get two entries into the giveaway.

There’s one more:

Allegiant is also starting nonstop seasonal service to New Orleans (MSY) from the Rickenbacker Charter Terminal (LCK) in Columbus, Ohio and to celebrate the airline is giving away two free round-trip tickets and hotel accommodations.

To enter: show up with a packed bag at that airport on Thursday, Feb. 5 no later than 10 a.m. and fill out an entry form for the two free round-trip seats on Allegiant’s inaugural flight to New Orleans.

One winner and their guest will be drawn at random. The giveaway includes one free checked bag for the winner and their guest and a free three-night hotel stay.

Airports celebrating Chinese New Year & Mardi Gras

Airports, Holidays,

To mark the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Snake, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) will present a variety of special performances on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013 between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. on the “Asleep at the Wheel” stage, post-security and across from Gate 10.

Austin Chinese New Year

The line-up includes: soloist Shelley Chen, with a trio of student singers and a pianist; a four-piece band called G’Oldies; Jak Lee, performing as an electric guitar solo act, Chinese pop band 512 and Guzheng Shao Studio’s Chinese Instrumental Ensemble.

“Throw me something Friday” should be underway today at New Orleans International Airport and, over at the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, they will be welcoming visitors coming to town for the city’s annual Historic Soulard Mardi Gras celebration and celebrating Mardi Gras Day at the Airport.

In addition to an exhibit of St. Louis Mardi Gras posters dating back to 1982, travelers will notice airport employees dressed up for Mardi Gras and volunteers handing out beads to travelers. There will also be jazz bands playing in both terminals. Here’s the schedule:

Jim Stevens Duo- 12 p.m.- 2 p.m. (Terminal 1)
Heather Matthews Trio- 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. (Terminal 1)
The Usual Suspects- 12 p.m.- 2 p.m. (Terminal 2)
St. Louis Songbird Duo- 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. (Terminal 2)

St. Louis Mardi Gras

Free Mardi Gras beads at New Orleans Airport

Festivals, Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, , , ,

Going to New Orleans?

If your trip begins on a Friday, you’re in luck.

Since September, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has been hosting “Throw me something, Fridays” and offering free Mardi Gras beads to arriving passengers.

250-300 pounds of beads are handed out on an average Friday and on the Friday before Mardi Gras airport staff handed out 1100 pounds of beads – along with stuffed animals, balsa wood airplanes, luggage tags and other “Welcome to New Orleans” treats.

Reed Barnes, the airport’s customer service manager, told me that the purple, green and gold beads are handed, not thrown, to travelers from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. each Friday and that “No one has to lift their shirts” in order to get some beads. “Although,” said Barnes, “a lot of guys offer.”

As airport amenities go, free Mardi Gras beads are a nice touch. Especially because the airport buys recycled beads that have been cleaned and bundled by employees from a local charitable organization.

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport ready for Mardi Gras

Events, Holidays,

No time to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras? You could go instead to St. Louis.

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is ready to welcome the thousands of visitors expected to visit St. Louis for the annual Historic Soulard Mardi Gras celebration.

For the third year, the airport is hosting an exhibit of St. Louis Mardi Gras posters dating back to 1982. The month-long exhibit is in the Terminal 1 Baggage Claim and in the Terminal 2 ticketing lobby.

February 17, the day prior to the River City Casino Grand Parade, will be Mardi Gras Day at the airport, so don’t be surprised to find airport employees in Mardi Gras garb and to hear live music in both terminals.

The River City Casino Grand Parade takes place on February 18. The city’s month-long calendar of Mardi Gras events wraps up with the Lumiere Place Light Up the Night Fat Tuesday Parade in downtown St. Louis on February 21. For more information see: www.mardigrasinc.com.

Rock out for Mardi Gras at Lambert-St. Louis Int’l Airport

Art, Exhibits, Holidays, , , ,

Lambert Mardi Gras poster display

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is participating in St. Louis’ Historic Soulard Mardi Gras celebration with a display of historic posters and the unveiling of five new Mardi Gras-themed rocking chairs.

Lambert-St. Louis Rockers

The chairs were painted by local artists and will join the fleet of Lambert Rocks chairs.

The airport is also showcasing official Mardi Gras Posters that date back nearly 30 years.

Look for these colorful, festive displays in the lower level of Terminal 1 and the upper level of Terminal 2

“St. Louis Mardi Gras events began in February and will culminate with the River City Casino Grand Parade on March 5 and the Lumiere Place Light Up the Night Fat Tuesday Parade on March 8.”