LAFAYETTE, La. — Tonight the Krewe of Bonaparte will take over the Cajundome Convention Center for their annual Coronation Ball. 2,000 people are expected to attend the formal event that kicks-off at 8:30 p.m. Ted Viator, the head of Viator and Associates, works on several Mardi Gras events every year. "I have been doing this too long, I would say probably since the 1980s", Viator reflected on his long career.
Viator put together his year's Bonapart Ball and in describing the experience he said, "you have to have patience and it's really neat working with the different Krewes. Each Krewe has their own personality and the way they do things. Bonaparte is a very fun group."
The theme for tonight's ball is "Bonaparte Fools With Mother Nature" and the details of the show will remain secret until tonight's performance. "It's an element of surprise and just letting everything go and that's what Mardi Gras is, having a good time and kinda like, you know, everything you hide inside yourself just kind of explodes, you know, and that's what is gonna happen tonight", Viator explained.
He designs everything from the backdrops to the costumes that will be worn at the ball. "It's really neat, Mardi Gras is all make believe and I think it's when you put somebody in a costume we try to make the costumes fit the personality of that person so when the curtain opens you kinda tell them to do this or do that, and you see how their personality just comes out", Viator added.
After tonight's celebration Viator said he is looking forward to celebrating his favorite holiday, "Ash Wednesday is my favorite holiday, you don't have to give me presents, you don't have to eat like Thanksgiving, but it's just the day that Mardi Gras is over!"
