Although it may not be quite the same as Bourbon Street, the town of Auburn was filled with the spirit of Mardi Gras for Fat Tuesday, Feb. 16.
UPC led the Mardi Gras celebration on campus with a table full of Mardi Gras staples.
"We have all sorts of beads, chocolate coins, masks, king cake and moon pies," said Ann Geoghagan, sophomore in hotel and restaurant management. "And we have fun."
This is the second year UPC has celebrated Mardi Gras on campus. Geoghagan said UPC typically does something to celebrate holidays such as Mardi Gras or Valentine's Day.
"Really we're just trying to promote UPC," Geoghagan said. "We're handing out free stuff which is usually how we get people to come to UPC events."
Stephanie Cox, junior in marine biology, said even though events like the Mardi Gras celebration are used to promote UPC, she still thinks they are rewarding.
"It's just fun to give back to the students; to give them something different, something to eat on the way to class," Cox said. "Everyone definitely enjoysit."
Geoghagan said the king cake was her favorite part of the UPC Mardi Gras celebration.
According to Geoghagan, king cake is a sweet, doughy cake which is similar to "a donut crossed with a cake."
Geoghagan said traditionally a baby figurine is placed inside the king cake. Whoever finds the baby is said to have good luck for the next year, but they also must buy the king cake for the following year's celebration.
Cox said she was unsure whether or not the UPC cakes contained baby figurines.
"I don't know if we have a baby in them or not," Cox said. "I think they said something about it being a choking hazard. I wouldn't want to find the baby anyway because then you would have to buy 30 cakes for everyone next year."
Melanie Butler, senior in industrial design, said the possibility of finding a baby did not affect her decision to pick up a piece of king cake. "They could be poisoning me right now and I wouldn't know, or care," Butler said.
UPC also distributed another Fat Tuesday essential: Mardi Gras beads.
"Everyone really likes the beads, they're really part of the Mardi Gras spirit," Cox said.
Cox said people did not have to perform any unsavory acts to receive beads, they could just ask for them.
Meanwhile, in the town of Auburn, The Bank Vault brought the spirit of the French Quarter to Toomer's Corner.
"We've got The Good Doctor playing and our normal drink specials plus three dollar hurricanes," said Victoria Hollis, bartender at The Bank Vault.
Although The Bank Vault did not have any king cake to offer, they did have their classic one dollar tacos for all those who wanted to splurge before Lent.
Hollis said events like Fat Tuesday are great days to celebrate at The Bank Vault.
"There's always a lot of people coming out, listening to music, pretty much just having a really fun time," Hollis said.
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