Photos by Bryan Oller
For the first time since February 2020, Manitou Springs was able to celebrate Carnivale.
Starting off the morning of Saturday, Feb. 26, amateur and professional gumbo chefs descended on Soda Springs Park for the 29th annual Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-off.
The panel of judges sampled each team’s gumbo, with the following results:
• First place, amateur — Chevalier Guillotte (Chevy’s Gumbo)
• Second place, amateur — Gwen Hamilton (Maw Maw’s)
• Third place, amateur — Isaiah Lewis (Man-Nola-Tou)
• First place, professional — Sacred Ground
• Second place, professional — ALCHEMY
• Third place, professional — Street Foodie
• Showmanship winner — Paul Haas (Bayou Boys)
• People’s Choice winner — Isaiah Lewis (Man-Nola-Tou)
After the cook-off, the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce hosted the 30th annual Carnivale Parade. About 2,000 spectators watched as people in colorful costumes made their way from Memorial Park to the Ruxton/Manitou Avenue roundabout.
The Carnivale Parade judges were on the lookout for groups with the best Manitou flair, the best crewe and the best use of theme. They chose:
• Best Manitou flair — LeGrande Accents Boutique
• Best crewe — Levitator Lounge
• Best use of theme — Ruxton Reststop