7th Annual Mardi Gras set at Sacred Heart

In its seventh year, the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Mardi Gras event is bigger and better than ever. Planned for Feb. 24, the evening will feature a decadent meal, dessert auction and entertainment provided by the Dueling Pianos of Andy Anderson and Mike Leeds.

The party helps to kick off the season of Lent at the church and also provides a way to raise funds for the youth group to participate in faith journeys, similar to mission trips, in the spring and summer.

“The biggest part of it is raising funds for our youth so they can do outreach projects,” organizer Emily Allen said.

The evening starts with an hors d’oeuvres Hour from 6 to 7 p.m. Dinner follows at 7 p.m. with this year’s meal catered by Country Catering from Pella and includes savoring sliced beef, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed green beans with almonds and a lettuce salad with strawberries.

As dinner is wrapping up, the dessert auction begins giving tables the opportunity to bid on more than 30 different sweat treats including cobblers, scratch cupcakes, French silk pie, three-layer carrot cake, chocolate slatted caramel cake and desserts from the Cheesecake Factory among many others.

At 8:30 p.m., the entertainment begins with Anderson and Leeds taking to their pianos. Together since 2008, the duo have traveled across the Midwest performing their high-energy, engaging dueling piano routine have refined their distinctive, almost brotherly on-stage chemistry that accommodates hilarious spontaneity, crowd-pleasing antics and a musical camaraderie that delivers a one-of-a-kind, unique show.

Songs range from hits of the 1950s to today’s favorites, the pair specialize in top 40 hits that everyone knows and loves.

“Last year was our first year to have dueling pianos and we added in the dessert option and it was a really fun time,” Allen said. “It was a great way to get everyone involved.”

Past entertainment at the party includes the High Society Big Band and various comedy acts.

Tickets to the event are still available at $35 each but Allen said they are extremely limited on space due to a high turnout. For more information contact the church at 641-792-2050.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at
641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or
jpierson@newtondailynews.com