Worth the drive

Less than 2 hours

Downtown and Soulard district, St. Louis

St. Louis kicks into Mardi Gras gear with The Mayor's Ball -- A Mardi Gras Masquerade, where revelers overtake City Hall from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday. Masks are encouraged.

The Lumiere Place Grand Parade goes through downtown from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday with a party that night, a precursor to the Fat Tuesday Parade down Market Street.

Chaumette Vineyards and Winery, Ste. Genevieve, Mo.

Chaumette will host its Mardi Gras Brunch on Saturday. Brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but the day continues with Cajun-style entertainment and dancing until 3 p.m. The brunch includes all kinds of Cajun favorites. For reservations, call 573-747-1000.

Tinnin Fine Arts Center, Poplar Bluff, Mo.

The Tinnin Fine Arts Center Gallery at Three Rivers Community College will show the work of Bootheel artist Teresa Dirks through Feb. 15. Dirk grew up in Kennet and Malden, and earned her bachelor's of arts degree at Southeast Missouri State University. She said her mixed media collages and acrylics are abstract and are inspired by the environment.