Vernon's Elks Hall is about to be transformed into New Orleans' legendary Bourbon Street.

Vernon's Mardi Gras party takes place Saturday, March 1, starting at 6 p.m. at the Elks Hall.

Mardi Gras will provide a complete New Orleans experience including beads, masks, and the opportunity to dress up in your favourite Mardi Gras costumes (or come without costume). An authentic New Orleans Cajun buffet-style meal will be available, including gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, cornbread, southern sweet tea, and more.

No Mardi Gras event is complete without the traditional great music to listen and dance to. The Vernon event will feature B.C.'s premiere up-and-coming eight-piece New Orleans-themed funk band Nouveau Funk, managed by LMS Entertainment (same parent company of the popular Yellow Brick Road Elton John tribute band).

Nouveau Funk will perform many New Orleans classics past and present, as well as recognizable funk, R&B, gospel, and jazz classics (including music by Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Parliament).

"Event coordinators thought that Vernon needed some complete cultural experiences common in our larger cities, and in particular wanted to share the stories of some of the musical pioneers of both Canada and the U.S.," said LMS entertainment.

"These musicians and artists faced many obstacles and hurdles (slavery and poverty being an obvious example), yet despite being society's underdogs made a lasting mark in Western music that has left a profound impact on all of us (of which we are largely unaware).

"While this event is primarily a party, some tidbits about New Orleans and these musicians will be included throughout this event as a part of the planned entertainment."

Tickets are $85 plus taxes, available at .