Mardi Gras festival brings the 'Big Easy' to Sarasota

Johnny Rocket and Elizabeth Peake

Bert Votruba and Stella Votrubova compete in a water gun carnival game.

Joshua Salinas, Caroline Madut and Emily Salinas

Larry Kolbmann and Mo Sheedy

Masks with feathers are tradition for Mardi Gras parades.

Mo Sheedy shows off her new earrings inspired by artist FridaKahlo.

Families enjoyed a night with carnival rides and games at the Sarasota Mardi Gras Music & Food Festival.

Vendors sold festive puppets at the Sarasota Mardi Gras Music & Food Festival.

The three-day event was the inaugural Sarasota Mardi Gras Music & Food Festival.