Mardi Gras 2022
28th Mardi Gras
Saturday, February 18th
5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
(Doors open at 5 pm, Dinner served from 6-8 pm, Cash Bar)
St. Ann Arts & Cultural Center
84 Cumberland Street, Woonsocket, RI
Tickets SOLD OUT!
Live music by
The Squeezebox Stompers
(Zydeco, Blues & Soul, Cajun Waltzes)
FULL BUFFET
with Cajun, Creole, and French Canadian food
French Coleslaw
Artisan Breads & Whipped Butter
French Meat Pie from Chelo's
New Orleans Chicken & Sausage over Pasta
Maque Choux
Cajun Dirty Rice
Maple Green Beans
Creole Garlic Roasted Potatoes
Mardi Gras Cake
Coffee Station
MARDI GRAS QUEEN'S CORONATION AND THE UNMASKING OF KING JACE
SOLD OUT!
Sunday, February 20, 2022 from 5-7 pm
at Savini's Pomodoro
476 Rathbun Street, Woonsocket, RI
2022 Mardi Gras Queen Desiree Archambault, 1st Princess Stephanie Santoro and 2nd Princess Tabitha Westerhuis
King Jace contest
sponsored by Dave Richards of WOON
Radio
Clues to King Jace XXVII's Identity
1. Is fully vaxxed.
2. Hates liver, snow, and Rap.
3. Loves steak, TV, and his Queens and Princesses.
4. Is not a fan.
5. Is an educated man.
6. Has many siblings.
7. Is a friendly guy.
8. Quotes only himself.
9. Leads those who lead others.
10. Is Woonsocket born and raised.
The King emerges! |
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| Dave Richards, the King's Liaison, has documented appearances of the Mysterious Monarch, King Jace XXVIIth, in and around landmarks in his kingdom of Woonsocket. |
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King Jace XXVIIth Dan Gendron with |
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2022 Mardi Gras QueenDESIREE ARCHAMBAULT
Desiree Archambault is a lifelong resident of Woonsocket and a graduate of Woonsocket High School. She has strong ties to the Woonsocket community as a 20-year employee of Chelo's and as a parishioner of the former St. Ann's Church, where she participated in the children's choir. One of seven siblings that all still reside in the city, she is the daughter of Linda Archambault and Maurice Beaudreault. She is the mother of four children, three grandchildren, and three foster children. Desiree would be honored to represent her community as Mardi Gras Queen, citing her interest in the community, the history of St. Ann's, and continuing the legacy of her family as reasons for participating. |
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2022 Mardi Gras Princess Stephanie Santoro was raised in Keene, NH and has been a Woonsocket resident for 20 years. She is an employee of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of RI and is a group fitness instructor at the Gym LLC and the Woonsocket YMCA. She is passionate about her faith, her family, and fitness. Stephanie has a daughter who graduated from Mount St. Charles Academy who now attends the University of New England in Biddeford, ME. Stephanie believes that it is important to play a part in enriching the communities where we live and work and has helped to do that by serving as Vice Chair of the Autumnfest Committee, as a board member of the Woonsocket Rotary, and as a captain for the Southern New England Heart Walk. As a Mardi Gras queen contestant, she hopes to strongly support the betterment of northern Rhode Island through the avenue of arts and culture. |
Tabitha Westerhuis is the daughter of Roland and Judy Beauchemin, the proprietors of Missy’s Family Restaurant in Woonsocket, previously known as Kevin’s Galley. Tabitha and her family are committed to serving the community particularly with the homeless, elderly and our veterans as they offered meals to those in need on Thanksgiving. Tabitha also volunteered with St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center, New Beginnings, Autumnfest and chaperoned field trips. She is the proud mother of two children and likes to be part of the community, creating a legacy for her children, family and community. She believes that family, community, and small business are the keys to success. |
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The Queen and Princesses about to start their royal duties at the Ball. |
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 The Royal Court After Cutting the Cake at the Mardi Gras Ball. Queen Desiree Archambault, Princesses Stephanie Santoro and Tabitha Westerhuis and King Dan Gendron. |
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Mardi Gras Queen Contestants 
QUEEN CONTEST RAFFLE PRIZES
1st prize $500 cash
2nd prize $300 cash
4th prize $50 gift card
2002 Mardi Gras
Queen Lorraine Jacob and husband Paul Jacob
with the Queen after winning the Split the Pot drawing.
Previous Kings & Queens
(click on links to see page from that Mardi Gras)
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1954 • |
Pauline (Nadeau) Miller |
1955 • |
Maureen (Mazzarella) Kennedy |
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1956 • |
Beverly (DiCesare) Russell |
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1957 • |
Pauline (Gagnon) Riendeau |
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1958 • |
Rita (Laliberte) Nadeau |
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1959 • |
Claire (Paul) Lafrance |
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1988 • |
Michelle (Lefort) Wheeler |
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Owen Bebeau |
•1995 • |
Gloria Jean Roy |
Roger Nault |
• 1996 • |
Paula Rezendes |
Al Auclair |
• 1997 • |
Roxanne Menard |
Leo Fontaine |
• 1998 • |
Dianna Glassey |
Roger Jalette |
• 1999 • |
Donna Gallant |
Ken Bianchi |
• 2000 • |
Nancy (Melvin) Beauregard |
Noel Pincince |
• 2001 • |
Suzanne Beaulieu |
Dave Richards |
• 2002 • |
Lorraine Jacob |
Roger Petit |
• 2003 • |
Stacey (McCutcheon) Fitzsimmons |
Roger Bouchard |
• 2004 • |
Roberta Baillargeon |
Tom Ward |
• 2005 • |
Joyce LaPerle |
Brian Blais |
• 2006 • |
Lorraine Guilbault |
Marcel Desroches |
• 2007 • |
Nancy Phillips |
• 2008 • |
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• 2009 • |
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• 2010 • |
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• 2011 • |
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• 2012 • |
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• 2013 • |
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| Bob Phillips | • 2014 • | Sheylon Lawson |
| Paul Shatraw | • 2015 • | Tracey Parenteau |
| Edward Hunt | • 2016 • | Tammy Lamberto Roy |
| Joe Nadeau | • 2017 • | Nicole Riendeau |
| Bob Billington | • 2018 • | Joyce LaPerle |
| Garrett Mancieri | • 2019 • | Ann Jalette |
| Dominique Doiron | • 2020 • | Lori Paul Thuot |
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French settlers brought their traditions to Louisiana in 1766. By 1857, New Orleans began to develop its own traditions of masked balls, organized parades, and “throws” (favors such as beads, doubloons, and cups thrown from parade floats). In 1872, the King of Mardi Gras selected the celebration’s official colors of purple, green, and gold. The colors’ meanings were defined as justice (purple), faith (green), and power (gold) in 1892.