More than 1,800 revelers hailing from across the country gathered Feb. 17 for the party of all Mardi Gras parties, the 26th annual San Luis Salute, hosted by Landry’s CEO Tilman Fertitta and family. Before the Salute, an invitation-only Champagne pre-party was held dockside at Pier 21 where guests boarded Fertitta’s $150 million, 77-meter super yacht, The Boardwalk, while mingling and sipping Veuve Clicquot. The main event, themed “The Gilded Masquerade,” at the Galveston Island Convention Center at The San Luis Resort featured a lineup of non-stop entertainment, including fire dancers, an aerial violinist, stilt walkers, sultry dancers and sword-swallowing showmen. The evening’s festivities also featured a presentation of this year’s honoree, Dr. Gulshan Sharma, senior vice president and chief medical and clinical innovation officer at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and the Knights of Momus court. Party-goers also enjoyed a performance from Grammy award-winning artist Pitbull.