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It’s A Funfest Bead Brawl!
Posted On:Jul 12, 2008
I do not know at what point the Funfest officials decided to have a bead throw just for children, but it was a good idea. (The reason I do not know what year it was is because once my official duties as a radio personality no longer included emceeing Mardi Gras, I stopped going. ) And since it was adults who were causing the problem, this seemed like a good solution. It should have worked.
It didn’t, of course. Now apparently the parents just watch the kids catching the beads, then fight amongst themselves anyway. There are evidently a small but vocal number of Funfest attendees who are determined to ruin the fun at any cost.
A couple observations – in my experience, it was WOMEN who caused the bead brawls 98% of the time. Not men. Do with that what you will.
And let me add that it was ALSO my experience that Mardi Gras was a blast, filled with treats and music and games and shows, with tons of fun to be had. The bead throw(s) were always a tiny little piece of what went on, the rest of which was entertaining and generally problem-free as far as the crowd goes. So my suggestion would be to ditch the bead throw altogether. Funfest Mardi Gras has always been a great celebration and will not suffer one little iota if we take away this one aspect of it.
(I will post some pics next week here of Mardi Gras past – ah, good times, good times….)
Posted by Jody Lee Back to the blog »
Reader Reactions
Posted by ( beeman ) on July 13, 2008 at 12:07 pm
This seems like the perfect opportunity for me to ask a question that I wondered about every year at Funfest. Why do they name an event Mardi Gras in July? Mardi Gras proper is Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. It is not in July and never will be. It just seemed like a really bad idea to name some event in July that has absolutely nothing to do with the religious connotations of the term. Maybe there is a perfectly good reason for this but I have never heard an explanation of it, and it seems like something that would be done out of ignorance.
But I do get your point about how people take on mob characteristics in trying to catch some worthless trinkets. There really is no explanation for human behavior sometimes. And yes someone could get hurt, or maybe someone already has. I won’t be there so I don’t know. For those that enjoy it go for it. Those beads may be valuable some day.
Posted by ( Jody Lee ) on July 13, 2008 at 6:00 pm
You’re right, beeman, there is no connection to the actual Mardi Gras - I think they just wanted to use a name associated with BIG FUN and festivities, so they snatched it for that reason.
I laughed when I read your tongue-in-cheek indication that the beads might be worth something someday. Heaven forbid someone read it and think “Hey! Maybe they WILL be worth a fortune some day...” and the fracas become even more out of control! Wouldn’t surprise me.
Jody
Posted by ( D.Hutch ) on July 14, 2008 at 3:37 pm
When I saw the News on WJHL that evening I was glad I didn’t attend FunFest. I’m ashamed to know adults would act in such a manner that would but a blight on what was intended to be a joyous event for children. beeman, I agree with you and Jody but I have a suggestion about the name Mardi-Gras that seems more fitting for that segment of Funfest, call it “FunFight” or “FightFest”. These people (and I use the word loosely) should join those “folks” that line the rails when the Santa Train comes alone and throws candy and toys to the CHILDREN. The Santa Train is another deadly accident about to happen because of adults acting like “Heathen’s”.
Posted by ( Jody Lee ) on July 14, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Good point about the bead toss and the Santa Train evoking the same reaction in a very weird group of people. Hadn’t thought of that, but you are right!
Jody
Posted by ( jtrinkle ) on July 15, 2008 at 7:58 am
As the President of a Little League ball field I can easily agree with you. Over the years women have become increasingly violent and vulgar in their behavior. I just had this same discussion with someone the other day prior to reading your blog and said 95% of the ball fields trouble was instigated by women. At one point in the year there were some issues with some mothers and in my discussion with them I explained my observations. When little Johnny arrived at the field because the mother was mad he was asked what was wrong; his answer “awe nothing just mom”. I let the mothers explain how their children were belittled and embarrassed by the coach and once I investigated the issue it became a little different story. I told the one mother what little Johnny’s response was and what happened then proceeded to tell her who really embarrassed her child. Little Johnny did not mention anyone but his mother, not the coach not the umpires just mom so who hurt him the most. This is the same type of issues I have dealt with all year long and each time it was the mothers of the children that were increasingly the problem.