Join downtown Asheville in celebrating this year’s Mardi Gras parade and Queen’s Ball. Sponsored by local nonprofit Asheville Mardi Gras, this year’s parade and activities all center around one main theme: “Life is a Carnival.”

The free public parade starts at 3:05 p.m., followed by The Queen’s Ball (the official after-party) at the Wicked Weed Funkatorium, from 5:30-9:30 p.m.