Bon ##fire attendance continues to meet or exceed current numbers . Hotel occupancy rates near 96 percent for Saturday night . `` It just appears that people feel the need to relax and celebrate , and Mardi Gras is an opportunity to step back from what they 're dealing with every day and spend a little time in a mellower , less threatening , more carefree type of an environment . '' Supplier of the throws says sales are up this year .
Bon ##fire attendance continues to meet or exceed current numbers . Hotel occupancy rates near 96 percent for Saturday night . Supplier of the throws says sales are up this year .