Dress in your best purple, gold and green and join Main Street Kent in the city's first-ever Mardi Crawl on Friday.
The nonprofit's business enhancement committee, who came up with the event, said the area has 10 participating venues celebrating Mardi Gras this year.
The crawl will begin at Venice Café, where attendees can check in from 5 to 8 p.m., pick up crawl passes and T-shirts and participate in a costume contest. The prize will include a "downtown Cleveland overnight getaway."
Attendees can get their passes stamped at each restaurant and bar while sampling some New Orleans-style grub and collecting Mardi Gras beads, masks and giveaways along the way. There will also be specials on Labatt and Magic Hat at each stop.
"This group is always thinking of ways to get businesses to work together, and creating fun opportunities for people to explore multiple businesses during one event," said Heather Malarcik, Main Street Kent executive director. "We thought this would be a great way to help people with cabin fever by getting dressed up and heading downtown for a fun Mardi Gras-style evening."
Erie Street Kitchen owner Jeff Crowe is taking his Southern-inspired menu to the next level with his famous shrimp etouffee and alligator. He's also making a special dessert for the occasion: dark chocolate filled beignets.
"If you go to New Orleans in the French Quarter, you'll get a powdered sugar friend doughnut," Crowe said. "Once you get through eating it, you'll have powdered sugar surrounding you. We flash fry them, dust them in powdered sugar and serve warm. You got a sweet, crunchy doughnut."
At 157 Lounge, pick up Magic Hat giveaways and glasses. Mr Zub's inside Water Street Tavern will also have blackened shrimp and grits with andouille sausage, smoked gouda and caramelized onions and a shrimp po boy with classic remoulade.
Those who check in to at least five participating locations can enter to win prizes at Water Street Tavern throughout the evening. Winners will be announced Feb. 12.
Tickets are $15 per person. Proceeds will benefit Main Street Kent, with a portion going to Freedom House, a transitional housing facility for homeless veterans.
To purchase tickets, go to mainstreetkent.org.
Reporter Kelly Maile can be reached at 330-541-9416, kmaile@recordpub.com or @KellyJMaile.