Mardi Gras Parades

Advocate file photo by Travis Spradling -- Spectators reach for throws from riders on the float of the Krewe of Sleasiana, on Spanish Town Road, Saturday at the 30th annual Krewe of Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade in 2010.

It’s here! Mardi Gras.

Whether one attends Mardi Gras parades in New Roads, Lafayette or New Orleans all serve as apt renditions defining Mardi Gras.

Distilling Mardi Gras into a solitary concept can be elusive and confounding. The adage: The greatest free show on Earth perhaps is as good as it’s going to get.

Here is a list of the Mardi Gras festivals and parades throughout south Louisiana through Fat Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Maps for the New Roads parades are in the photo gallery.

Monday- Tuesday, feb. 20-21

Crowley

• CARNIVAL D’ACADIE: Two days of live music, street dancing, festival foods, parade. http://www.crowley-la.com.
• GRAND MARDI GRAS PARADE: 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, downtown. http://www.crowley-la.com.

MONDAY, Feb. 20

Batchelor

• SECOND ANNUAL LUNDI GRAS PARADE: 11 a.m. http://www.pctourism.org.

Houma

• KREWE OF CLEOPATRA: 6:30 p.m., Westside route. http://www.houmatourism.com.

Lafayette

• QUEEN’S EVANGELINE PARADE: 6 p.m.

Metairie

• KREWE OF ZEUS: 6:30 p.m. http://www.kreweofzeus.org.

New Orleans

• KREWE OF PROTEUS: 5:15 p.m., Uptown.
• KREWE OF ORPHEUS: 6 p.m., Uptown. http://www.kreweoforpheus.net.

Patterson

• KREWE OF AMANI: 2 p.m., Patterson High School/La. 182, ending at Norman Shopping Center. http://www.cajuncoast.com.

TUESDAY, Feb. 21

Chackbay

• KREWE OF CHOUPIC: 2 p.m. http://www.visitlafourche.com.

Covington

• MYSTIC KREWE OF COVINGTON: 10 a.m., Bogue Falaya Shopping Center.

Eunice

• COURIR DE MARDI GRAS 2012: Costumed horseback parade, 8 a.m.
• TRUCK PARADE: 2:45 p.m.

Franklin

• ALL-KREWES PARADE: 1 p.m., Franklin Senior High School, ending on Third Street. http://www.cajuncoast.com.

Galliano

• KREWE OF NEPTUNE: noon. http://www.visitlafourche.com.

Gheens

• KREWE OF GHEENS: 11 a.m. http://www.visitlafourche.com.

Houma

• KREWE OF HOUMAS: 11 a.m., Westside route. http://www.houmatourism.com.
• KREWE OF KAJUNS: follows Krewe of Houmas, Westside route. http://www.houmatourism.com.
• KREWE OF BONNE TERRE: 4 p.m., Montegut. http://www.houmatourism.com.

Jeanerette

• GRAND MARAIS MARDI GRAS PARADE: 11 a.m., U.S. 90 East at College Road. http://www.iberiatravel.com.

Kaplan

• KREWE CHIC-A-LA-PIE: 2 p.m., downtown.

Lafayette

• KING GABRIEL’S PARADE: 10 a.m.
• LAFAYETTE MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL PARADE: 1 p.m.
• INDEPENDENT PARADE: 2 p.m.

Lake Charles

• MOTORCYCLES, CLASSICS & HOT RODS PARADE: 1 p.m., downtown. [phone]
• KREWE OF KREWES PARADE: 5:30 p.m., rolls from Lake Charles Civic Center, Broad Street.

Loreauville

• FAMILY AFFAIR MARDI GRAS PARADE: 2 p.m., Main Street. http://www.iberiatrave.com.

Mamou

• MAMOU MARDI GRAS: 8 a.m. until, downtown. Cajun-style celebration with costumed men on horseback chasing chickens and collecting food for the town’s communal gumbo.

Mandeville

• KREWE OF DONZ: Lakeshore Drive.

Metairie

• KREWE OF ARGUS: 10 a.m., Metairie. http://www.kreweofargus.net.
• KREWE OF JEFFERSON: Truck parade. Follows. Argus.
• ELKS JEFFERSONIANS: Truck parade. Follows Jefferson.

Morgan City

• KREWE OF HEPHAESTUS: 2 p.m., Sixth Street, ending on Myrtle Street. http://www.cajuncoast.com.

New Iberia

• KREWE OF COTEAU MARDI GRAS PARADE: 1 p.m., 6310 Coteau Road. http://www.iberiatravel.com.

New Orleans

• KREWE OF ZULU: 8 a.m., Uptown. http://www.krewofzulu.com.
• KREWE OF REX: 10 a.m., Uptown. http://www.rexorganization.com
• ELKS ORLEANS: Truck parade. Follows Rex, Uptown.
• CRESCENT CITY: Truck parade. Follows Rex, Uptown.

New Roads

• COMMUNITY CENTER CARNIVAL: 10 a.m. http://www.pctourism.org.
• EW ROADS LIONS PARADE: 1 p.m. http://www.pctourism.org.

Opelousas

• HALF-FAST KREWE OF FRANK’S PARADES: 9 a.m.

Thibodaux

• KREWE OF GHANA: 11 a.m. http://www.visitlafourche.com.