MARSHALL MARDI GRAS
Marshall is the county seat of rural Madison County. As I‘ve mentioned before, Madison County is home to traditional Appalachian mountain people who grew tobacco and lived a close communal life. But into these mountains came city folk who wanted to live in the mountains because of the beauty of the countryside and because they preferred rural life to city life. My daughter and her man Todd are in this group. And then there are people who live in big cities like Miami and Charleston who want to have a country home to escape to, often visiting for only part of the year.
When I visit Marshall I am an outsider from Asheville, but in Marshall, a small town on the bank of the French Broad River twenty miles north of Asheville with one main street, what strikes me is the comradary among the people who live in and outside Marshall who feel Marshall is home. Last night Marshall celebrated Mardi Gras. The instigator was Lois Simbach, an artist and funky fashion designer who lived for many years in New Orleans where she loved taking part in Mardi Gras. She loves to dress up in electric clothing year around and likes to get others to do the same. And that is what happened last night. She put up some posters and a crowd of friends gathered. I don‘t know how many of the Marshall old timers were there, probably not many, but they were invited. Everyone was welcome. The party started at the indoor courtyard of Lois’s home and studio where there were drinks of every kind and a huge pot of New Orleans gumbo soup provided by Sweet Monkey restaurant, enough to go around, and people who knew each other simply delighted in talking with each other and looking at each other.
Following an hour of conversation and self admiration there was a parade, but not a parade down the middle of the street with floats as are so many of Marshall‘s parades. This parade was simply a long line of dressed up folks strolling down the side walk through the middle of Marshall to the stately courthouse square, waving to each other and the few spectators gathered to watch. Instead of a band a little cart with piped music lead the way. And then everyone either stood around for awhile or went home.
The costumes were terrific and a group of women dressed up as Southern Belles were a sight to behold. But often the only thing that set people apart was a mask and a few beads. It was just a group of friends in small town America having a good time together, and I felt included and had a great time myself, photographing everyone that I could and driving home to Asheville glowing.
Thanks not only to Lois Simbach but to the entire Downtown Marshall Association who made the pre-parade party a success and who performed and celebrated in stores up and down the main street.
BILLYBABA’S WANDERING 
Wonderful photos.. Thank you.. I, Lois Simbach, am part of the DMA, The Downtown Marshall Association.. and it is WE, working together who put on this event. I volunteered to host the pre-parade party.! It was a huge success. A lot of effort by a lot of members made this happen.