The 15th Annual Albany Mardi Gras Street Festival, located at the 100 block of Pine Avenue, will commence at noon on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Local bands will rock the stage until the gates close and ticket sales end at 8:00 p.m. Admission is $5 per visitor. Children ten and under are free with each paid visitor. A variety of food, beverage, novelty and craft vendors will be present. An abundance of activities and games with prizes will be available for children.
 
“Mardi Gras started fifteen years ago to promote downtown and encourage people within the community to experience what Albany and the downtown area has to offer. We continue to have a program that attracts all sorts of individuals, and we are happy to host this event in conjunction with the marathon” said Better Albany Member Tommy Gregors. “We look forward to this event every year and hope that everyone will come out and enjoy the day with us in Downtown Albany.”
 
Live bands to present include: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Evergreen Family Band; 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Bo Henry Band; 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Trae Pierce and the T Stone Band; 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Unbreakable BloodLine; 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Southern Arts Music Ensemble; and 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm Relapse
 
Interviews with Gregors can be arranged at any time during the week before the festival. Interviews may also be arranged with Better Albany Group Director Phil Cannon for anytime after 4:30 p.m. during the week preceding the festival.
 
The following discounted admission to the Flint RiverQuarium will be offered during the festival and during the Flint RiverQuarium’s normal open times to festival attendees: $5 general admission and $3 movie tickets. Different movies will play each hour throughout the day.