Last Updated on March 10, 2025 by Mrunal & Jiten
On Tuesday, March 4, the University of New Mexico held a Mardi Gras event in the Student Union Building.
Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States began in the 18th century when French settlers arrived in Louisiana, marking what is known as “Fat Tuesday,” according to the New Orleans website. Celebrations involve parades, colorful clothing and king cake, according to the website.
The SUB event included a live jazz performance by local guitarist Dimian DiSanti and his musical group, mask decorating and traditional Cajun food, including jambalaya and king cake.
“The event has been going on for at least 10 years here at the SUB. We had a total of 266 students who signed in at our check-in table for the event,” said Dale Olguin, student engagement coordinator and social media manager for the SUB.
Leslie Duran, a sophomore at UNM, heard about the event on social media and stopped by to learn more about Mardi Gras.
“My favorite part of the Mardi Gras event was the food and music,” Duran said. “I have never tried jambalaya before and it was better than I expected. Also, getting to decorate a mask was nice to do.”
Maria Fernandez is a beat reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
