Flagler Avenue will host its 7th annual Flagler Avenue Mardi Gras Parade at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 4, 2014. The parade will travel from S. Atlantic onto Flagler Avenue and turn south on Pine Street and end at Jessamine Avenue. Celebrate Fat Tuesday with the parade, Mardi Gras-themed music and food specials AND BEADS, BEADS, BEADS at 12 venues along the Avenue. The parade route will be closed to vehicular traffic from 5 – 8 p.m.  Cars also must be moved from the street to accommodate the large crowds. For more information, please call Shelly Pestine at 386.795.1060 or Beverly Hesson at 386.295.7567.

Easter Seals National Youth Representative, Volusia County’s own AUBURN SMITH NAMED GRAND MARSHALL for the 7th Annual New Smyrna Beach Mardi Gras Parade to be held March 4, 2014

ABOUT AUBURN SMITH, EASTER SEALS 2013 NATIONAL YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE:
Auburn Smith is a nationally-ranked tennis player and aspiring musician who loves to travel. An active high school junior, she doesn’t let a disability get in her way.  There was a time when her doctors couldn’t imagine Auburn doing even half of what she does today.  Born with spina bifida and clubfoot, she was just a day old when she had her first surgery. Her parents were told that she would likely never walk – something no one in the Smith family accepted. However, the outlook was significantly brighter when her parents brought Auburn to Easter Seals 18 months later. Their daughter wasn’t walking, but Easter Seals’ early intervention team still gave the family hope. After three months of physical therapy while attending Easter Seals’ therapeutic day care, that hope became reality: Auburn took her first steps. Nothing has stopped her since.

Now an active 16-year-old, Auburn walks with the aid of leg braces, while continuing to improve her stride during weekly physical therapy sessions at Easter Seals. Since age 8, she has enjoyed a wheelchair tennis program that Easter Seals offers for young people with mobility impairments — and she’s shown quite a talent for the game and is a nationally-ranked player in competitive wheelchair tennis.

In addition to the Mardi Gras Parade, new this year is our 1st Annual NSB Mardi Gras Ball, a Black Tie Masquerade Ball to be held on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at the Historic New Smyrna Beach Woman’s Club.  We have teamed up with Easter Seals of Volusia & Flagler Counties to create a one-of-a-kind event.  Prepare to be dazzled at this year’s Mardi Gras Ball!  This incredible evening will transport you straight to New Orleans, complete with a walk through Bourbon Street, games, exciting circus acts, dancing to the award-winning Victor Wainwright Band and of course an exceptional authentic Cajun meal all with Nawlins flair!  More information about the Mardi Gras Ball and online ticket sales are at www.mardigrasballnsb.com

ABOUT EASTER SEALS:
For 60+ years, Easter Seals has provided services to help children and adults with disabilities and/or special needs as well as support to the families who love them. In Volusia and Flagler counties, Easter Seals directly serves over 10,500 children and adults with disabilities with therapy, education, advocacy, recreation and support services. Thank you for supporting today’s event. Your contribution will flow directly to programs that support our most financially vulnerable families. To connect locally with Easter Seals, advocate or explore resources, call 386-255-4568 or visit www.esvf.org

Would you like to enter the parade?  There is no fee to enter, download the form here http://partyonflagler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/PARADE-entry-form2014.pdf