Mardi Gras happening in Naples: What to know about festival at Paradise Coast Sports Complex

When an estimated 1,000 revelers slurp up seafood stew and sway to zydeco at the inaugural Mardi Gras Festival this Saturday, they'll make history two ways: 

• They're christening the new Paradise Coast Sports Complex to life as a music venue as well as an athletic mecca. 
• They're the largest gathering in Collier County since March 12, 2020. That's when Artis—Naples, seating capacity 1,477, sent a nearly full house home from its concert hall with prescient awareness COVID-19 was a danger. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is still here, and this festival, unlike the cancelled Artis—Naples concert, is outdoors. The county-owned Paradise Coast Sports Complex, off Collier Boulevard in south Naples, opened Oct. 30; its soccer and football fields have already hosted several socially distanced tournaments.

The Naples Mardi Gras, however, is its first major music and arts festival. (See details in the information box accompanying this story.) With the continuing pandemic in its plans, it is spread out over the surrounding lawn, which holds both roaming areas and painted "personal bubble" circles for family/friend audience clusters. Hand sanitizer stations dot the area. Masks are required in enclosed quarters. 

This Mardi Gras is intergenerational

Partnering with the United Arts Council of Collier County, the county-owned park has capped attendance for this one at 1,000. There are attractions to keep visitors roaming at decent social distances as well. Creation stations offer kids mask-making and beadwork opportunities, as well as temporary tattoos. There are a balloon artist and goody bags.

Some 20 artist vendors are onsite. Tailoring their offerings to a New Orleans vibe are several different food trucks: Kiss My Ice, Off The Bone, Paco's Tacos and Tri-Tip T's.

And then there's the Paradise Coast food & beverage chef's "Low Country Boil," a cauldron — or perhaps several — of  savory seafood stew with N'awlins spicing. The park operates its own beverage stands, and a number of craft beers will be available, along with wine.

Naples artist Juan Diaz  will create one of his light performance series, painting with acrylic on back-lightedmuslin-panels. The Porchdogs come howling in with an afternoon of zydeco and the blues from 3 to 6:45 p.m. At 7, the Dan Miller Quintet takes over with jazz, putting out Miller's trademark trumpet riffs and guest appearances from sax personality Gerald Austin. 

Laura Burns, UAC executive director, said county management approached them about arts opportunities while the complex was under construction, and Mardi Gras presented itself as an event for which "we saw a gap in here," she noted.

Burns said the UAC spoke with member organizations about becoming a Mardi Gras team partner but that all of them were already fully scheduled with their own products.

"We've been talking with the Paradise Coast Sports Complex almost two years now about what events we can do to bring arts and culture to that area to build more awareness of the complex —  and to bring people to identify with it as more than just a sports complex," she said.

Shelter or a T? It's here

"It's not just sports," echoed Jeff Walters, its business development manager. "We're going to become Southwest Florida's premiere event center, too. I'm working with iHeartMedia to bring an A-lister concert into a stadium that holds 10,000 people."

What appears to the casual viewer as a huge swath of fields, concrete amenity structures and bright little ka-pows of landscaping is a candy store to Walters. And he's the kid in it.

Some of his enthusiasm has to be tempered by the fact construction workers are still building the rampway to the stage for Great Lawn concerts. But the acoustics, he says as he guides you to the sweet spot onstage to demonstrate, are there. Beyond the projected 10 football fields and six baseball and five softball diamonds there are spaces that can be adapted to various size concerts up.

What is complete now is Phase 1, 40 acres of sports fields and public areas with a walking trail around its lake, a small rock-climbing wall for kids, an outdoor fitness center, The Factory, with a director and equipment from ramps and stairs to climbing nets, an obstacle course and weight sleds. (There's a charter membership that is close to its limit already for that, after which daily, monthly and annual fees are available.)

In case you missed it:Collier approves new infusion of money for sports complex

In 2020:Paradise Coast Sports Complex shows off new public fitness, dining areas

The area known as The Cove, where the Mardi Gras is planned, already has Friday night entertainment and beverages concessions after 4 p.m. Smoky-gray granite-rimmed fire pits put out a sunset blaze to warm the cooling air. You can also rent the bags for its built-in bean bag toss stations; several bocce ball courts are also available to to the public. If you want to play earlier, just bring your own bean bags, Walters said. 

"That's the difference. Because this is county-owned, it's open to the public. People can come out here and play for free or walk the trail," he pointed out. 

Kitchens will be all around the completed stadium, where Walters envisions stars like Chris Stapleton and Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan, along with pop/rock stars like Jimmy Buffett. A general store and a snack shop fill needs like sunscreen or caps. 

And worry not about finding a T-shirt supplier for your event; the Paradise Coast Sports Complex already has its own fabric printing department onsite.

Eventually, this complex will comprise 180 acres when it's fully built out and will ultimately have a staff of 300. What happens when it turns sweltering hot? Walters is ready for that: "We can bring you indoors with a tent that is full air-conditioned, and it can be as long as a football field," he said, smiling. 

Walters concedes he has a lot of naming rights to sell for its sports fields, lawns and even the stadium. But he feels Collier County has a venue like few others in the United States for both athletics and aesthetics.

"This is a dream come true," he declared. 

Harriet Howard Heithaus covers arts and entertainment for the Naples Daily News/naplesnews.com. Reach her at 239-213-6091.

What: Music, arts, entertainment and food sponsored by United Arts Council and Collier County

When: 3-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20

Where: Paradise Coast Sports Complex, 3940 City Gate Blvd. N., Naples

Admission: $20; free for ages younger than 11

Tickets: uaccollier.org; information, 239-254-8242

Don't forget: Bring your own seating for the concerts.