Two downtown blocks in Peoria will again transform into a New Orleans street party this spring.
The Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Center says it’s bringing back its “Mardi Gras in May” festival on Water Street.
Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesperson Kasi Osborne says last year’s inaugural event attracted a large crowd, despite it being a “wintry” May day.
“We probably had, throughout the course of the day, around 3,000 people came down. The food trucks had lines, the restaurants were all completely packed,” Osborne said. “It was a huge success, definitely something Peoria had been looking for.”
Osborne says this year’s event added a second stage, with traditional Mardi Gras performers from New Orleans. The event is May 13th.