The third annual St. Peter Rocks Out Mardi Gras event was held March 1 in the social hall at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 4 S. Fifth St., Coplay. “Laissez les bon temps rouler” (Let the good times roll) was the theme of the party.

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

The merriment was wide ranging, with an Elvis Presley impersonator and music from the Joseph Kroboth Band that had many celebrants on their feet dancing to an eclectic array of quality music.

The event opened with a parade led by a dragon, his long tail held up by seven committee members, and followed by partygoers throughout the social hall singing “When the Saints Go Marching In.” That set the tone for an evening of fun and up-tempo enjoyment with the good times clearly rolling.

Attendees wore colorful garb in green, gold and purple adorned with multicolored beads. Many donned popular Mardi Gras masks. The bright, festive colors intentionally contrast with the color associated with the Lenten season.

Louisiana Cajun cuisine and other foods, refreshments and beer were included in the ticket price. The event was also BYOB.

This event had a King Kake circling the centerpiece at each table. King Kake is a New Orleans Mardi Gras tradition. A braided cinnamon bun is decorated with different-colored sanding sugar. Green represents faith, purple symbolizes justice, and gold signifies power.

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

St. Peter Roman Catholic Church pastor Monsignor David L. James, who also is the Allentown Diocese vicar general, and former pastor Monsignor John J. Martin were delighted by the fellowship of attendees.

Nuns of the Missionary of the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary, Sisters Dorothy, Harriett and Veronica, who reside at the recently reopened convent, were all smiles as they also enjoyed the festivities.

It is believed the first American Mardi Gras took place March 3, 1699, when French explorers landed near present-day New Orleans. Now, about 326 years after the first American Mardi Gras, St. Peter keeps the tradition going.

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 how 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.

The third annual St. Peter Rocks Out Mardi Gras, with fun activities, thoughtful choreography and celebratory ambience, certainly rolled out the good times. Planning for the 2026 event has already begun.