Lake of the Ozarks, MO -  "Let the good times roll" is the official slogan of Mardi Gras and the Lake of the Ozarks takes it to heart, rolling out the fun with its 13th annual Mardi Gras Pub Crawl on Saturday, Feb. 15.  The event features live entertainment at 22 restaurants and nightspots in the Lake area.

Participants can safely move from place to place aboard shuttle buses that offer transportation from participating hotels, motels and resorts to all of the venues.  A wristband available for only $10 provides admission to all Pub Crawl locations, as well as shuttle bus transportation.

"On any given weekend, you could pay around $10 to get into just one live entertainment venue at the Lake," said Jeff Carroll, Pub Crawl organizer.  "For the same price, the pub crawl offers 22 venues, as well as transportation.  That's a deal you can't beat."

The Mardi Gras Pub Crawl has grown from just eight locations in its first year to become the biggest off-season event at the Lake, attracting more than 6,000 participants last year.  Carroll attributes the success to the number of venues, the quality of the food and entertainment and the availability of safe transportation.  "Your Pub Crawl wristband allows you to put your keys away and count on having a great, worry-free evening out on the town," he said.

With 24 spacious, 60-passenger buses in use for the event, the fun keeps rolling along.  Twenty buses will cover the entire shuttle route, stopping at each venue, while four buses will be on the Express Bus Route that will stop at only four designated venues.  In addition, six smaller buses will be dedicated to returning participants to their Pub Crawl lodging locations from any stop along the route.

Many "pub crawlers" dress in costumes, often featuring the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, gold and green.  Pub Crawl T-shirts will be available at all venues, both on the night of the crawl and for purchase before the crawl, beginning approximately Feb. 1.

Most of the Pub Crawl restaurants and nightspots will feature live bands playing music from rock to blues to country.  At others, participants can dance to music spun by DJs or even make their own music at locations featuring karaoke.  When it comes to food, pub crawlers will have their choice of an eclectic mix of Mexican cuisine, Italian favorites, prime rib, seafood, Ozarks-style barbeque, Chicago-style pizza and much more. 

Participants often make plans to visit their favorite venues along the route.  However, because the event is so popular, some locations meet their occupancy limits and festival-goers wait in line to enter.   Carroll offers advice, especially to first-time attendees, on how to make the most of the Pub Crawl.  "All of the venues are fun and each offers great food and entertainment," he said.  "When people arrive and see a line, I encourage them to try something different and go to a location they have never been to before.  They can always go back to one of their favorite locations later in the evening.  'Don't waste your precious pub crawl time standing in line' is what I tell them."

The Lake of the Ozarks area has much to offer visitors any time of the year.  For more information about winter and spring getaway packages, lodging, dining, shopping, attractions, and events, contact the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visit the website at FunLake.com.

MARCH 7-8

LIVERPOOL LEGENDS RETURN TO THE LAKE  

Liverpool Legends, the award-winning Beatles tribute band, will come to the stage at Main Street Music Hall in Osage Beach for two performances on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, at 8 p.m.  The Branson show created by Louise Harrison, sister of the late George Harrison, gives audiences the full Beatles experience.

Louise Harrison hand-picked the performers for the Liverpool Legends show, both for their striking physical resemblance to the original Beatles and also for their musical expertise.  These talented artists faithfully recreate performances from throughout the Beatles' career, complete with wardrobe changes to represent the different eras of the band's history, and then continue on through the years of band members' solo performances.  Vintage video footage of the Beatles serves as a backdrop for the performance and audience members are invited to stand near the stage, enhancing the live concert experience.  The result is a widely acclaimed and crowd-pleasing tribute that engages audience members and takes them back to the years when the world was watching the Beatles.

APRIL 24-26

64th ANNUAL DOGWOOD FESTIVAL 

This enduring festival in Camdenton celebrates the springtime beauty of Missouri's state tree.  Dogwoods dot the forested hills around the Lake of the Ozarks, with white and pink blooms signaling the coming of spring and summer.  The Dogwood Festival offers fun for the entire family.  Events include a parade, carnival, crafts, several pageants, golf tournament, fish fry and plenty of other festival food, plus entertainment.  Visit the festival website for more information:  www.camdentonchamber.com/dogwood-festival.asp.  

MAY 2-4

MAGIC DRAGON STREET MEET NATIONALS 

The Magic Dragon Street Meet Nationals is a unique show for all makes, models, and years of cars, trucks and motorcycles.  In 2013, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary and 2014's event promises to be the best ever, organizers say.  The historic Bagnell Dam Strip is closed to other traffic during show hours, so the only vehicles in sight are the show vehicles, creating an absolutely electric atmosphere.  Some say it's like being on the set of "American Graffiti."  Learn more about the festival at: www.magicdragoncarshow.com.  

Note to Media:  The winter and spring seasons are full of exciting travel stories at the Lake of the Ozarks!  For more information, media assistance or high-resolution photos, please call The Beenders Walker Group toll-free at 800-544-8474 or e-mail Deb, Marjorie, Jo or Kyle.