Good times rolled at Mardi Gras 2025!

FOJ’s biggest event of the year, featured great music, delicious food and fine auction items.

Few annual Friends of Jazz events are better and none are bigger than the king of all major fundraisers, the party celebrating Fat Tuesday. This year’s Mardi Gras Ball was held March 8 at the Fullerton Elks Lodge.

About a hundred guests had plenty to celebrate at this year’s Ball. And it was all for a good cause–keeping music in the schools.

And celebrate they did! There was plenty of dancing, parading, eating, drinking, bidding on auction items and just plain merriment.

At 5pm, doors opened and guests were greeted in the New Orleans Room by the Cal State University, Fullerton Quintet.  They were served delicious hors-d’oeuvres, given a drink ticket, beads, and a ticket for a free photo while the group entertained. They also got their first look at the array of 55+ silent auction items beautifully displayed in numerous baskets, and they bought tickets for a drawing and for bottles of wine (which included a chance for dinner at  Fogo de Chao).Boxed notebooks, pens and the evening’s programs adorned each table.

Of course, what ball would not be complete without the appearance of the reigning 2025 king and queen, Paul and Amy Hinz. Then FOJ President Colleen introduced the newly chosen royal couple for 2026: Don Dyer and Judi McDuff. Colleen also introduced the current FOJ board to the guests.

Following the coronation was an authentic, New Orleans-style Mardi Gras krewe parade, led by FOJ’s colorful dragon and CSUF’s Titan Ramblers. Guests paraded throughout the venue, complete with beads and twirling parasols, while the krewe played “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

In the main ballroom, the Fullerton College Jazz Band, directed by Bruce Babad, provided some great entertainment for listening and dancing. A delicious dinner was served while the band played.

During and after dinner, Karissa Espinoza and Nico Aguas, two members of Fullerton College’s vocal jazz group, J-Train, and their director, Jamie Shew, sang several jazz standards with the Dance Band. Director Bruce Babad soloed on sax. And plenty of dancers were swinging to the music.

It was a fun-filled evening that raised money to help keep music in the schools. Many thanks to the volunteers: Wendy Pitts, Laura Lara, Chris, Leah and Jack Arthur, Terry Stillman, Erica Voss, Matt, Vicki & Jake Caputo, Judy Carolan, Sonny Saentz. Thanks, too, to the National Charity League mom and daughter.

Kudos to the FOJ Board and Mardi Gras committee members, especially to Mardi Gras Directors Larry & Kitty Arthur; Colleen Wadsworth, FOJ President; Don Dyer, Emcee; Paul & Amy Hinz; Dianne Wallace; Jerry & Linda Wolf; Nick and Dottie Batinich; Candy Valko; and Nancy Nehring.

Thanks so much to Chef Zee, Esteban and the staff at the Fullerton Elks Lodge; and to photographer Steve Manivong.

And heartfelt thanks to you, our members, for helping to keep music in the schools by supporting this worthy annual event.