Broad Channel Celebrates Mardi Gras 2025!

By Dan Guarino

As the streets were lined with applause, cheers and smiles, Broad Channel’s festive, fun Mardi Gras parade stepped off on Cross Bay Blvd. on Monday, September 1.

Hundreds of costumed Channel adults and kids, walking or aboard elaborate homemade floats headed southward from West 10th Road shortly after 1 p.m. Led by the music blaring Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department (BCVFD) Engine 212, the procession turned at 20th Road, then marched northward on Cross Bay.

As is tradition, BC onlookers pulled chairs, kids and coolers across the Boulevard to watch the parade go by again on its way to the Broad Channel Athletic Club (BCAC) Memorial Field.

A BCVFD color guard, followed by firefighters and officers, marched at the head of the parade, which stretched for blocks. Councilwoman Joanne Ariola and staff also took part. Mardi Gras, a Labor Day end of summer celebration since back when Broad Channel was a seasonal vacation community, has also capped off months of fundraising for Broad Channel community organizations since 1908, when proceeds went to build the volunteer firehouse on Noel Road.

More recently, the BCVFD and BCAC have alternated as annual Mardi Gras activity hosts and beneficiaries. This summer, the BCAC organized activities like family movie nights, a country western night, Thursday dinners, pro wrestling events, super 50/50 raffles, kickball and softball tournaments and more.

Founded in 1961, the BCAC hosts sports activities for boys and girls all year-round including football, baseball, softball, soccer, basketball and swimming.

Their weekend leading to Mardi Gras featured a showing of “Lilo & Stitch,” a Friday Night Countdown Party and Saturday Family Day down at the field.

On Monday, marchers and residents gathered there for music by DJ Milty, beverages, hot dogs, hamburgers, raffles and more. Children enjoyed a bounce house and a splashing inflatable waterslide.

Prizes were also given out. For Parade Walkers, the prize for Most Original went to the pet-themed “Petting Zoo,” featuring a tail wagging lion-maned pup. Funniest went to “Ozzy’s Crazy Train,” a mini-black locomotive wagon with purple bats. Prettiest went to the ladies of the “Orioles Royalty” entourage.

For the Mardi Gras Parade Floats, First Place for Most Original went to the Anabas Boat Club’s “Jaws,” a 50th movie anniversary tribute with a huge fabricated vessel, crew and “This Is The Bigger Boat” sign attached.

Second went to the glittering bright emerald “Green Shamrock Club,” featuring cheering kids in matching “club” t-shirts and smiling parents. Third Place went to the exuberantly orange Jamaica Bay Softball League champion Orioles, playing since 1995.

Funniest Float went to the colorful “Crazy ‘A’ Train,” another tribute to late musician Ozzy Osbourne, with Shuttle and Far Rock A destination signs. Second Place went to the country singer Zach Bryan-themed “Broad Channel Revival,” with kids in cowboy hats and signs mixing lyrics and Broad Channel locales.

First Place for Prettiest Float went to “CHANNEL RAT-tatouille,” a play on a local nickname, with a dozen plus white aproned, mouse-eared toddlers and up, eight mom “chefs,” pots, pans and kitchen fixings. The colorful “Goodbye Summer- Hello Halloween,” took Second Place, going from flip-flops to frights and lifeguards to superheroes and witches.

Celebrations at the field went on well into the afternoon, and later at residents’ parties. The BCAC later posted a long list of thank yous, including to the Broad Channel community, as they noted “We had a blast this summer and hope you all did too!”

Photos by Dan Guarino.