The second annual St. Peter Rocks Out Mardi Gras was held Jan. 27 in the social hall at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 4 S. Fifth St., Coplay.

In French, Mardi means “Tuesday” and gras means “fat.” That’s why the day is referred to as Fat Tuesday. The label originated in France. It was what people used to describe the day before Ash Wednesday, when people would binge on rich foods such as meat, eggs, milk and cheese before Lent began.

It is believed the first American Mardi Gras took place March 3, 1699, when French explorers landed near present-day New Orleans.

Inside the church hall, the sold-out event hosted nearly 225 revelers in a Mardi Gras-themed decorated space. Louisiana Cajun cuisine and other foods were featured for dinner. Refreshments and beer were included in the ticket price. The event was BYOB.

The event opened up with a dragon - his long tail held up by seven committee members - leading the entrance parade as they sang “When the Saints Go Marching In.” That set the tone for an evening of merriment and up-tempo enjoyment.

Attendees wore colorful garb in green, gold and purple adorned with multicolored beads, and many donned Mardi Gras masks.

Entertainment was provided by the Joseph Kroboth Band and had many celebrants on their feet, dancing to an eclectic array of music. Five hours of high-energy, festive celebration occurred right until the event concluded.

Mike and Beverly Sobchak led a team of about 20 coordinators to assemble a memorable celebration marking the day before Lent begins.

The event had a King Kake circling the centerpiece at each table. King Kake is a New Orleans Mardi Gras tradition. It is a braided cinnamon bun, decorated with different-colored sanding sugar. The colors all have significance - green represents faith, purple symbolizes justice, and gold signifies power.

There was a tiny, plastic baby Jesus embedded inside each table’s Kake. Whoever cut into the piece of Kake with the baby Jesus is mythically blessed with good luck the rest of the year. The person at each table who got the baby Jesus won a bottle of wine.

St. Peter church’s pastor, Monsignor David L. James, who also is the Allentown Diocese Vicar General, attended, as did retired former pastor Monsignor John J. Martin. Father Mark Searles was also in attendance.

Dave and Vicki Stockmal, of Georgia, returned to their roots for the event. Vicki is originally from Coplay, and Dave hails from Whitehall. They used the event to reconnect with people they know in the area.

Planning for the 2025 Mardi Gras event has already begun.