AUBURN #- Mardi Gras is officially celebrated Tuesday, but that didn't stop several local parishes from getting in the festive mood with music food and good friends.

For six years, St. Hyacinth's Parish Center Mardi Gras dinners have been a big hit with many people in the community.

Greg Panek, president of the Holy Name Society said that the idea originated with a former priest at St. Hyacinth's.

“Father Berard (Dudek) wanted to do something to get the Holy Name Society more involved in the church,” Panek said. “We're a men's group that meets four times a year and we discuss issues in the church and we look for ways to help support the church and we thought that this would be a good way to do that.”

Panek said that throughout the year, the Holy Name Society hosts numerous events, but that this dinner has become one of the most popular in recent years.

“It just keeps growing every year,” Panek said. “Each year we have more and more people. I'd say we average between 180 and 200 people that are here for dinner each year.”

It is a combination of things that Panek believes draws in the crowds.

“It is February and there isn't much else going on right now and people want to get out,” Panek said.

“But the whole Mardi Gras theme and the food and everything I think is what gets so many people here.”

Each year, the dinner alternates between Italian and Polish foods.

This year it was Poland's turn with pirogies kapusta, pigs in the blanket and rye bread.

For many years, Ray Masterman along with his wife, Stephanie, has been handling thing in the kitchen.

“We've been cooking all week,” Masterman said. “We've been making pirogies all week. We just enjoy doing this and seeing people enjoy all this food.”

Masterman estimated that most years there are anywhere from 30 to 70 takeout dinners as well as the people that stay to eat.

For those that stay there was no lack of activities, with music by Sound Playground and games like pass the pancake and crafts for the children.

Marianne Sabine, has helped with parish youth activities for a number of years and has focused on the Mardi Gras games in particular for this celebration.

“The kids really seem to enjoy it,” Sabine said. “We have Mardi Gras mask making and we have games and things like that, we try to make it a lot of fun for everyone here young and old.”

The combination of food and games and music has proven to be an unbeatable one.

“This is sort of the last party before Lent,” Jean DeJoy said. “It is my first time here, but I'm looking forward to the food, that should be really good.”

Across town at the Sacred Heart parish hall on Melrose Road, there was a mellower but no less festive atmosphere for a Mardi Gras celebration there.

“Deacon Nick Valvo said that the church introduced the celebration a couple of years ago and after skipping last year, decided that it was time to do another Mardi Gras party.

“People really seemed to enjoy it,” Valvo said. “It is just a nice opportunity for our parishioners to get together and get to know each other and meet new people and for everyone to enjoy some good food and good company.”

Valvo said that food was provided by Balloons as well as the efforts of several parishioners.

Sam Giangreco was also on hand as DJ playing swing and big band songs all night long.

Parishioner George Tehan invited several friends to join him for the evening.

“I just thought it would be a nice night out,” Tehan said. “Lent is coming up and we're all bored of winter, so this is just a nice chance to get out.”

Tehan was joined by Marlene and Bill Herschberger, who said they were enjoying themselves and the food and music.

“George asked us to join him,” Marlene said. “It is very nice, a nice casual kind of event, it is really nice.”