There’s An Event For Everyone This Carnival Season

It’s true New Orleans gets the most attention when it comes to Mardi Gras and no one would argue that it’s the biggest and — perhaps depending on who you ask — most notorious.

But celebrations big and small, quirky and decadent are held from the top of the boot to the bottom throughout Carnival season. While we can’t include every parade and party across the state, if you want to try something new to you, we have a roundup of everything from cookoffs and galas to dog parades and chicken runs up to and on Fat Tuesday, which falls late this year on March 4. Grab the glitter and mark your calendar for some of the biggest and best Carnival celebrations in the world.

Strutting their stuff on Mardi Gras day at the Lake Charles Second Line Stroll

Carnival season officially begins on the last day of the 12 days of Christmas with Twelfth Night (which is Jan. 5). This is also the first time it’s “legal” to eat king cake, so plan accordingly. Celebrate the beginning of the season in style with Lake Charles’ Twelfth Night Parade Extravaganza at the Event Center, where last year’s parade royalty makes their final farewells in glittery, feathery Mardi Gras finery amid dancing, door prizes and lots of pomp and sparkle. In 2024, Lake Charles’ Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu broke ground at its new 6,000-square-foot building at 641 Enterprise Blvd., in the Nellie Lutcher Cultural District. Make time to take in the special exhibition of costumes from the Mardi Gras Museum’s collection. The exhibit is scheduled for early 2025. On the Friday before Mardi Gras, the Merchant’s Parade is the place to be in Lake Charles. This night parade is the first of the big weekend and known for its luminous floats and abundance of throws. The festivities are in full swing on March 1, with the World Famous Cajun Extravaganza and Gumbo Cook-off at the Lake Charles Event Center, plus the quirky and fun Krewe of Barkus Parade at the corner of Ryan and Broad streets downtown. Sample your fill of seafood, chicken, sausage and game-based gumbos from professional chefs and amateur cooks during the Gumbo Cook-off. At Barkus, proud pups in their Mardi Gras finest strut the streets and ride on owner-drawn floats for an afternoon of fun. On March 3, prepare for another evening of glitz and glam at the Mardi Gras Royal Gala at the Lake Charles Event Center. Thousands of attendees turn out to view a promenade of the royalty from Lake Charles’ Mardi Gras krewes followed by music and dancing. On Fat Tuesday, options abound with a celebration to fit any preference. Downtown’s Second Line Stroll is a low-key, family friendly walking parade with marchers donning costumes or their group’s color theme. Mardi Gras music and festive vibes abound. A short 20 minutes from Lake Charles, you can celebrate Cajun Mardi Gras with the Iowa Chicken Run in Iowa, which starts at 8 a.m. with the parade rolling at 10 a.m. Trucks, tractors and ATVs serve as floats and participants wear everything from T-shirts and jeans embellished with fringe to full fringed courir de mardi gras regalia complete with capuchon (a  cone-shaped hat). The Lake Charles festivities culminate with the Mardi Gras Southwest Krewe of Krewes Parade featuring over 60 krewes rolling for four miles starting at 5 p.m. It’s known as the most popular parade of the season and the rousing grand finale of Carnival in Lake Charles.

Pups on parade at the CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts Mardi Gras Parade in Baton Rouge on February 16

The festivities kick off in Shreveport on Jan. 18 with the Krewe of Sobek parade at the Louisiana State Fair Grounds. The Krewe of Sobek was created to promote unity and culture in the African American community and bring Mardi Gras to Shreveport’s minority communities. Sobek is the ancient Egyptian crocodile god known as a protector of the innocent so, of course, parade goers can expect crocodile throws from the krewe. This year’s theme is Sobek in Candy Land. Party people will have to wait a little over a month for the next parade, but it’s a doozy. The Krewe of Centaur rolls on Feb. 22 in Downtown Shreveport. This super-krewe sports approximately 800 members and calls itself one of the largest single-group parades in the Ark-La-Tex. Expect family fun and lighted floats, so whether you catch the beginning during daylight hours or the end of the parade after nightfall, you’ll see it all. In the weeks between parades, visit the Krewe of Gemini Mardi Gras Museum at 2101 E. Texas St. in Bossier City to take in over a decade of Mardi Gras history and magic, before catching the Krewe of Gemini live and in-person on March 1 in Downtown Shreveport. Marchers, riders on horseback and the krewe’s signature doubloons, plus toys and other festive throws make this parade a must. While everyone loves a big parade with even bigger floats, the Krewe of Highland neighborhood parade brings a spirit of whimsy to the occasion on March 2 in the Highland Historic District. Expect homemade floats (think wagons, riding lawn mowers and shopping carts), creative throws, including food like ramen noodles, Moon Pies and hot dogs and lots of artful, zany and sometimes irreverent fun.

Parents take note: The City of Shreveport’s designated alcohol-free zone is near Veterans Park on Clyde Fant Parkway.

Attention! The Krewe of Centaur rolls on February 22 in Downtown Shreveport

If it’s true that New Orleans is the adult Disneyland of the United States, the state’s capital just 82 miles away in Baton Rouge is the state’s family-friendly counterpart. It stands to reason then that the Mardi Gras festivities are built with families in mind. The celebrations begin on Feb. 15 with the Krewe of Oshun parade, which had its inaugural roll in North Baton Rouge in 2020. The next day, party with your pets at the CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts Mardi Gras Parade downtown. This annual parade is the largest fundraising event for the Capital Area Animal Welfare Society and helps fund its spay and neuter programs. Furthermore, who doesn’t want to see a Chihuahua in a tutu and a shih tzu dressed as a crawfish? Look for the big parades to start rolling the weekend of Feb. 21 with the first and only all-female Krewe of Artemis, named after the powerful Greek goddess sired by Zeus. This night parade is crowd favorite for kids of all ages who strive to catch one of the krewe’s signature high heeled shoe throws. It’s a day chock full of parades on Feb. 22 with the Le Krewe Mystique de la Capitale Parade, Krewe of Orion and Mid City Gras festivities. The big weekend features Friday night’s fantastical Krewe of Southdowns nighttime parade and the popular and quirky Spanish Town Mardi Gras on Saturday. The Spanish Town parade, organized by the Mystic Krewe for the Preservation of Lagniappe in Louisiana, is a wacky, irreverent, colorful, satirical, flamingo-filled romp and said to be the Red Stick’s largest parade. Wrap up your weekend of festivities with the Krewe of Shenandoah’s parade on Monday, March 3 in the Shenandoah neighborhood. If you are still in the mood to party on Fat Tuesday and want to keep with the family-friendly theme, drive a little over 40 minutes to New Roads for the oldest carnival celebration outside New Orleans. Plan for a day filled with parades, live music and loads of fun.

The fiery Krewe of Carnivale en Rio parade is a must -see in Lafayette on February 21

In February, Cajun Country comes alive with Carnival parades and celebrations in towns big and small. Lafayette falls under the heading of big with seven days of parades. The first weekend kicks off on Feb. 21 with Krewe de Canailles Walking Parade and is capped off the following night with the eye-catching Krewe of Carnivale en Rio parade. After a few days’ rest, revelers enter a gauntlet of parades and parties beginning with the Krewe of Allons “Kick-Off” Parade on Feb. 28. Cheer on your friends as the Krewe of Oberon, the oldest children’s krewe in Lafayette (founded in 1928), and other krewes take center stage and the kids strut their stuff during this daytime Children’s Parade on Mar. 1. Later that night, revolution will be in the air as the Krewe of Bonaparte, Acadiana’s largest krewe, takes to the streets. All who skip this call to celebrate risk exile. No matter where the parades are, you can always find Carnival fun, from Friday until Mardi Gras Day, at the Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette at the CajunDome. Bring the entire family for rides, bands and parades. One of the country’s coolest Mardi Gras day traditions is just north of Lafayette in Eunice. The Eunice Courir de Mardi Gras has been happening as long as Eunice, founded in 1894, has existed but the tradition goes back centuries. Arguably, the most distinctive celebration in Louisiana, the locals don handmade costumes and gather ingredients for the community gumbo by “begging” their neighbors. To cap off the day, the capitaine releases a chicken and the race is on — aka all hell breaks loose. Once caught, the honorable fowl is added to the delicious gumbo and it’s time to feast. Allons!  It’s probably worth mentioning that chicken runs can be boozy affairs. So, for the families with kiddos in tow, don’t forget to check out the family-friendly Old-Fashioned Mardi Gras Run at Vermilionville Living History Museum on Feb. 23, which offers the kids a chance to get in on the chicken chasing.