City of Trees Parade showcases Sacramento’s diversity in new Mardi Gras party

Wes Samms wants to change the way you think about Mardi Gras.

It’s not just New Orleans that can have fun before Lent starts. Samms is organizing Sacramento’s first Mardi Gras parade, the City of Trees Parade that will roll through town Feb. 26.

The term Mardi Gras comes from the French “Fat Tuesday,” and it’s traditionally celebrated the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which starts the Catholic season of Lent. Samms thinks more broadly of Mardi Gras.

“Mardi Gras is a format for celebrating a place, a time, and a people,” Samms said.

Samms thinks the time is right for Sacramento to embrace its own Mardi Gras and celebrate all things Sacramento.

From this beginning, he hopes the City of Trees Parade can grow to represent all of the parts and people of Sacramento.

“This first year represents 10 percent or less of what it could be,” he said. “We would love to include Muslim, Indian, Polish, Russian, LGBTQ+ — all cultures in Sacramento in the future.”

The idea for the parade was born from Samms’ birthday celebration last year. In 2021, Samms gathered people together in masks and costumes for a Mardi Gras parade. After that day, he knew Mardi Gras was the perfect celebration to lift up Sacramento culture.

“Seeing people in a parade like this makes people want to express themselves and be creative. I hope it fosters greater expression and cultural pride in Sacramento,” says Samms.

The participants will also be proud of their performances in the parade, Samms hopes.

The Sacramento chapter of the NAACP, the Curiosity Collaborative, Wide Open Walls and Sacramento Valley Spark are coming together to host the parade from the Capitol to Old Sac.

The parade will have around 600 participants. Participants in the parade will include the Grant Union High School drum line, Infinite Spin Aerial Performance, a Sac Valley Spark Mobile Lounge, 100 riders from Bike Party Sacramento, a Deco Fish Twin Mobile party float, a Cluck Norris Chicken float, bands, dancers, cheer teams and the Krewe of Trees Costumed Marchers.

NOLACAL Second Liners, a New Orleans-style dance and music group, will give the event typical Mardi Gras flair. Still, Samms said he wants more diversity and groups in future parades.

Samms said the parade is funded “on a wing and a prayer,” which is evident in how the group is pinching pennies to pull off the event. Volunteers will be trained to secure street closures. That will lower the cost and require less police presence along the parade route. Volunteers will be trained to hold events safely and maintain the closures. It gives the highest level of safety at a lower cost.

At the end of the parade route, floats will be on display for spectators to get a better look and food trucks will be on site. Also, the Sacramento version of a Mardi Gras parade is going to be completely family friendly for all ages to celebrate together. Parade organizers hope this is a good opportunity for families to build a sense of community and belonging.

What about the beads, though? At the other Mardi Gras, something is usually … encouraged … for a person to get beads tossed to them. Not here — beads are for everyone at this family-friendly event. And speaking of the beads, those are actually being sourced from a group called Arc-GNO in New Orleans that recycles beads. The nonprofit creates jobs for people with intellectual disabilities through the cleaning, sorting and reselling of beads from New Orleans.

If this sounds like your kind of celebration and you believe in Sacramento culture and arts, organizers invite you to join in donating to defray the costs of the parade. Part of the effort to celebrate Sacramento arts includes supporting Sacramento artists and performers, so artists and performers will be paid for their appearance in the parade. If you or your business can sponsor a float or a group, you can help make this event happen.

Another fun option to help support the endeavor is to join the Krewe of Trees. If you can donate $100 toward the parade, you join the Krewe of Trees and can march with the group, throw beads, and enjoy the afterparty at the end of the parade route when the parade meets up with Louisiana Sue’s Mardi Gras in the Freeway Gardens at Old Sac.

If you go

The parade will start at the Capitol building on Feb. 26 and runs from 5 to 7 p.m. You can learn more about what groups will be performing, sponsors, and donations at curiositycollaborative.org. Also, follow Krewe of Trees on Facebook and Instagram for updates and spotlights on the performers.

This story was originally published February 17, 2022 at 10:00 AM.