The fourth-annual Mardi Gras Magic Dinner & Dance to benefit Austin's House will be held Feb. 17 at the Carson Valley Inn.
This festive fundraiser recreates the party atmosphere of Bourbon Street in New Orleans on Fat Tuesday with food, music, dancing, raffle prizes and a grand prize drawing for a trip to "The Big Easy."
The evening starts at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour. Participants then will feast on a Cajun buffet dinner featuring peel-and-eat shrimp, chicken gumbo, blackened fish, sausage steamed in beer and smoked rib-eye roast with all of the trimmings.
After dinner, the Mardi Gras Magic party hits full stride with dancing music provided by Fabrizio. Raffle prizes will be drawn every 15 minutes. The silent auction features donated prizes from local businesses.
The ticket donation for the event is only $50. Tables of 10 are available for $500. Only 200 tickets will be sold. Call Austin's House at 775-267-6711 to order tickets. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
Participants need not be present to win the grand prize drawing for a three-day, two-night vacation at the 4-star Harrah's New Orleans, including dinner for two at Besh Steakhouse, tickets to the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium of the Americas and Entergy IMAX theater plus $500 toward airfare. People can purchase a $20 entry for the grand prize from Austin's House or any member of the board of directors.
Austin's House is the only emergency children's shelter in rural Northern Nevada. It provides services and care for up to 10 children from infants to age 18. The children are placed at Austin's House after being removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.
Austin's House provides the basic living necessities including proper nutrition, hygiene, rest, nurturing, recreation, companionship, life skills training and education. The facility depends on continued support from the community to keep the doors open.
For more information or to make a donation to Austin's House, call 775-267-6711 or go to www.austinshouse.org.
