A persistent rain didn’t prevent a vibrant Mardi Gras and Blues Festival from happening at Facebook HQ in Menlo Park earlier this month.
The May 18 Cajun Carnival, the first of five in an annual series of festivals sponsored by Facebook, raised over $16,000 for local nonprofit organizations battling hunger and homelessness in the mid-Peninsula, according to organizers. As we’ve reported recently, the festivals are akin to exceptionally fun farmers markets and are part of the company’s broader effort to bring fresh, affordable foods from local farmers to local communities.
The first festival of the new season featured a brass band, stilt walkers and a drum line cruising around the festival. Families enjoyed the Kids’ Zone, grocery shopping, listening to live zydeco and jazz music and perusing dozens of food trucks. They could also visit the Facebook tech zone and test the Ocuus Go (virtual reality) headset demonstrations, Portal by Facebook and participate in a Portal raffle and an Instagram photo booth for charity.
The next Facebook Festival – Red, White & Brew — is set for Saturday, June 22. For information, visit this FB event page or this website.
