Like everything this past year, the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s (NEKC Chamber) 11th Annual Beans, Beads and Booze, will look different, but hardly less colorful.

This year, the booze has been replaced by balloons.

The NEKC Chamber is inviting the community to decorate their porches, storefronts or vehicles in a ‘Mardi Gras’ fashion to celebrate Fat Tuesday on February 16. 

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday.

The chamber’s office at 2657 Independence Ave. will also be dressed up in celebration, as this modified event replaces its annual celebration at the American Jazz Museum in the historic 18th and Vine District.

Community members are encouraged to drive through to pick up beads and candy at the office between 4 and 6 p.m., or warm up inside with Cajun rice and beans. The chamber requests people to RSVP to Rebecca Koop,  Events Director at rebeccakoop@nekcchamber.com and observe COVID-19 safety protocols. For those who would like to join from home, a Zoom link has been set up.