The entire Dallas Mardi Gras committee joined forces to create a fun atmosphere of casino gaming, Crescent City cuisine, live music, Tarot card reader and more. The sights and sounds of The Phantom of the Opera greeted patrons as they arrived at the Belo Mansion grand entrance. The ballroom was transformed into a venue of richly colored decorations with gold, gold, gold and red everywhere, echoing designs inspired by the New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe floats.

Since 1911, the Dallas Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has provided relief to local victims of fires, floods, tornadoes, and other emergencies. When a home is devastated, a family may also be devastated. In many instances, The American Red Cross is there to provide immediate services and comforts to ease the family's suffering and provide immediate aid and assistance.

The chapter also teaches children and adults how to save lives through first aid and CPR training, water safety instruction, and community safety education.

Supported by more than 5,000 local volunteers and serving 3.8 million people, the mission of the Dallas Area Chapter is to help our communities prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters.

The event chairmen emphasize the importance of the Dallas Area Red Cross' mission and also thank their sponsors and underwriters for their continued support, many of whom have been involved since the beginning of the Dallas Mardi Gras Gala Event in 1998.

We offer a special thanks to our pre-party hosts this year, including Julie and Jim Turner, Dralion, obar and now to Ziziki's, who is host for the committee's "thank you" event in March. We also thank Eisenberg Printing for donating the graphic design for this year's event and many other special sponsors and underwriters.

At the party, beginning the evening's festivities was The Royal Court, complete with a King and Queen greeting guests and a jester to bring a smile, creating a great photo op.

They led the Mardi Gras parade, full of big, royal, pomp and circumstance music, leading everyone into the ballroom where there were tarot card readers, a magician, two "cirque-type" acts, food stations featuring a fabulous molasses pork, a mashed potato station with mashed potatoes served in huge martini glasses and every topping imaginable available, dessert stations and a spotlight on the drink of the night, the Kir Royale.

Patrons gathered up some fabulous items at the silent auction, enjoyed the casino and make their way to the dance floor and whirled the night away to the same late night band everyone enjoyed so much at Cattle Baron's, The Wonders.

"Our committee is a collective group of talented ladies who have donated so many hours to make Dallas Mardi Gras the success it was," Mrs. Scruggs says. "They brought all of their skills together to make it an exciting and fun party, while doing some great fundraising in the process."
Don't miss this fun party next year!
Tickets are $125 each, by reservation only and there are many sponsorships and naming opportunities available.
For more information, contact Audra Russell, Development Associate, Special Events at 214.678.4402.