Mardi Gras Parades
In Louisiana
South Louisiana Mardi Gras celebrations are as eclectic as they are predictable. The processions and pageantry of the Mardi Gras season include an array of cultural expressions celebrating life, fashion, food, music and traditional revelries prior to commonly held religious observances.
For all its chaos, Carnival is socially unifying. It reinforces social identities, and — for a short while at least — also sweeps them away.
Whether one attends the Spanish Town Parade in Baton Rouge, a Courir de Mardi Gras in Church Point, or one of the many brilliantly lighted processions of a New Orleans-based krewe, all serve as apt renditions defining Mardi Gras.
These seasonal celebrations are as peculiar and unique as any public festival could be envisioned. Yet capturing any one event doesn’t represent Mardi Gras in its totality. 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.
FRIDAY, FEB. 3
New Iberia
--Andalusia Mardi Gras Parade: 6:30 p.m., Main Street. http://www.iberiatravel.com.
SATURDAY, FEB. 4
Baton Rouge
--Krewe of Jupiter & Juno: 6 p.m., downtown.
New Orleans
--Krewe du Vieux: 6:30 p.m., French Quarter. (mature themed)
Slidell
--Krewe of Bilge: Noon, Marina Cafe. http://www.kreweofbilge.com.
Walker
--Walker Mardi Gras Parade: 1 p.m. departure from Walker High School. Floats, antique cars, horseback riders, marching bands, dancers and other performers. (225) 665-4356.
SUNDAY, FEB. 5
Metairie
--Krewe of Little Rascals: Noon. http://www.kreweoflittlerascals.org.
Pearl River
--Pearl River Lions Club: 1:15 p.m.
Slidell
--Krewe of Perseus: 1 p.m.
Vermilionville
--Courir de Mardi Gras: 11 a.m. $8, adults; $5, students. http://www.vermilionville.org.
FRIDAY, FEB. 10
Baton Rouge
--Krewe of Artemis: 7 p.m., downtown. http://www.kreweofartemis.net.
Houma
--Krewe of Hercules: 6 p.m., Westside route. http://www.houmatourism.com.
Mandeville
--Krewe of Eve: 7 p.m. http://www.kreweofeve.com.
Metairie
--Krewe of Excalibur: 7 p.m. http://www.kreweofexcalibur.com.
--Krewe of Atlas: 7:30 p.m. http://www.jeffparish.net.
New Orleans
--Krewe of Cork: 2 p.m., French Quarter, walking parade. http://www.kreweofcork.com.
--Krewe of Oshun: 6 p.m., Uptown.
--Krewe of Cleopatra: 6:30 p.m., Westbank. http://www.kreweofcleopatra.org.
Slidell
--Krewe of Mona Lisa & Moonpie: 7 p.m., Carey and Robert streets, walking parade. http://www.monalisaandmoonpie.com.
SATURDAY, FEB. 11
Abita Springs
--Krewe of Push Mow: 11 a.m., Abita Springs. http://www.townofabitasprings.com.
Baton Rouge
--Krewe of Mystique de la Capitale: 2 p.m., downtown. http://www.krewemystique.com.
--Krewe of Orion: 6:30 p.m., downtown. http://www.kreweoforion.com.
Carencro
--Carencro Mardi Gras Parade: 11 a.m.
Clinton
--Seventh Annual Clinton Mardi Gras Parade: 11 a.m., downtown. Parade line-up at 10 a.m. at Silliman Institute. (225) 683-4531.
Covington
--Krewe of Olympia: 6 p.m. http://www.kreweofolympia.net.
Denham Springs
--Krewe of Denham Springs: 3 p.m., from Denham Springs High School, ends at Veterans Boulevard.
Head Of Island
--Krewe of Diversion (St. Jude Parade): Noon, starting on the Diversion Canal near the La. 22 bridge and ending at Manny’s on the Amite River. Proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Houma
--Krewe of Petit Caillou: Noon, Chauvin. http://www.houmatourism.com.
--Krewe of Aquarius: 6:30 p.m., Westside route. http://www.houmatourism.com.
Lafayette
--Krewe des Chiens: Dog parade, 2 p.m., downtown. http://www.paradefordogs.com.
--Krewe en Rio “Parada”: 6:30 p.m. Brazilian-style parade.
Lake Arthur
--Mardi Gras Parade: 11 a.m., Lake Arthur Park. (337) 774-3675.
Larose
--Krewe of Versailles: Noon. http://www.visitlafourche.com.
Metairie
--Krewe of Caesar: 6 p.m. http://www.kreweofcaesar.org.
New Orleans
--Krewe of Choctaw: 11 a.m., Westbank.
--Mystic Knights of Adonis: 11:45 a.m., Westbank. http://www.jeffparish.net.
--Krewe of Pontchartrain: 2 p.m., Uptown. http://www.kofp.com.
--Knights of Sparta: 6 p.m., Uptown. http://www.knightsofsparta.com.
--Krewe of Pygmalion: 6:45 p.m., Uptown. http://www.kreweofpygmalion.org.
St. Bernard
--Knights of Nemesis: 1 p.m. http://www.knightsofnemesis.org
Slidell
--Krewe De Paws: 10 a.m.
--Krewe of Titans: 6:30 p.m. http://www.kreweoftitans.com.
Thibodaux
--Krewe of Ambrosia: 5:30 p.m. http://www.visitlafourche.com.
Vinton
--Mardi Gras Parade: 2 p.m., downtown, ending at City Hall.
SUNDAY, FEB. 12
Addis
--Addis Volunteer Firemen’s 50th Annual Parade: 11 a.m., First Street.
Houma
--Krewe Of Hyacinthians: 12:30 p.m., Westside route. http://www.houmatourism.com.
--Krewe of Titans: To follow Krewe of Hyancinthians, Westside route. http://www.houmatourism.com.
Jeanerette
--Krewe of Ezana: 1 p.m., Martin Luther King, Canal and Main streets. http://www.iberiatravel.com.
Madisonville
--KrewE of Tchefuncte: 2 p.m., boat parade, Tchefuncte River.
Marksville
--Krewe of Cyllenius: 2 p.m. (318) 253-4099.
Metairie
--Krewe of Thor: 2 p.m. http://www.jeffparish.net
New Orleans
--Krewe of Carrollton: Noon, Uptown. http://www.kreweofcarrollton.com.
--Krewe of Alla: Noon, Westbank. http://www.kreweofalla.com.
--Krewe of Arthur: 1:15 p.m., Uptown. http://www.kreweofkingarthur.com.
--Krewe of Barkus: 2 p.m., dog parade, French Quarter. http://www.barkus.org.
Scott
--Scott Mardi Gras Parade: 1 p.m.
Slidell
--Krewe of Dionysus: 1 p.m. http://www.dionysusofslidell.com.
Thibodaux
--Krewe of Shaka: 1:30 p.m. http://www.visitlafourche.com.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, FEB. 10-12
--Rouge Orleans: 126 mile marathon and relay road race from downtown Baton Rouge to Audubon Park, New Orleans. Participants run on top of the Mississippi River levee as it meanders to New Orleans. Registration: http://www.imathlete.com.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 15
New Orleans
--Mystic Krewe of Druids: 6:30 p.m., Uptown.
--Mystic Krewe of Nyx: 7 p.m., Uptown. http://www.kreweofnyx.org.
THURSDAY, FEB. 16
New Orleans
--Knights of Babylon: 5:45 p.m., Uptown. http://www.knightsofbabylon.com.
--Knights of Chaos: 6:30 p.m., Uptown.
--Krewe of Muses: 6:30 p.m., Uptown. http://www.kreweofmuses.org.
FRIDAY, FEB. 17
Baton Rouge
--Krewe of Southdowns: 7 p.m., Southdowns neighborhood. http://www.southdowns.org.
Church Point
--Courir de Mardi Gras: Day-long festivities, http://www.churchpointmardigras.com.
Hammond
--Krewe of Omega: 6:30 p.m., from Southeastern Louisiana University. http://www.kreweofomega.org.
Houma
--Krewe of Aphrodite: 6:30 p.m., Westside route. http://www.houmatourism.com.
Lafayette
--Lafayette Friday Night Parade: 6:30 p.m.
Lake Charles
--Merchants Parade: 7 p.m.
Mandeville
--Krewe of Orpheus: 7 p.m. http://www.originalorpheus.com.
--Krewe of Lyra: 7 p.m. http://www.kreweoflyra.com.
Metairie
--Krewe of Centurions: 7 p.m. http://www.kreweofcenturions.com.
Morgan City
--Krewe of Adonis: 7 p.m., Brasher/Federal Avenue to the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium. http://www.cajuncoast.com.
New Orleans
--Knights of Hermes: 6 p.m., Uptown. http://www.semrehclub.org.
--Le Krewe D’etat: 6:30 p.m., Uptown. http://www.lekrewedetat.com.
--Krewe of Morpheus: 7 p.m., Uptown. http://www.kreweofmorpheus.com.
Slidell
--Krewe of Selene: 6:30 p.m. http://www.kreweofselene.net.
SATURDAY, FEB. 18
Baldwin
--Baldwin Mardi Gras Parade: 11 a.m., La. 182 (Main Street) ending at Baldwin Community Center. http://www.cajuncoast.com.
Baton Rouge
--Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade: Noon, downtown.
Bayou Vista
--Krewe of Dionysus: 2 p.m., Delmar Avenue disbanding on Belleview Drive.
Bush
--Krewe of Bush: 9 a.m.
Church Point
--Courir de Mardi Gras: http://www.churchpointmardigras.com.
Golden Meadow
--Krewe of Atlantis: 1 p.m. http://www.visitlafourche.com.
Houma
--Krewe of Mardi Gras: 6:30 p.m., Eastside route. http://www.houmatourism.com.
Jennings
--Mardi Gras Festival & Parade: 10:30 a.m., with activities beginning in Founders Park, Main Street. Food, live music, parade at 4:30 p.m. on North Main Street. (337) 821-5532 or http://www.cityofjennings.com.
Lafayette
--Children’s Mardi Gras Parade: 12:30 p.m., from library to Bertrand/Cajun Field. http://www.gomardigras.com.
--Krewe of Bonaparte Parade: 6:30 p.m., from Surrey/Jefferson to Bertrand/Cajun Field.
Lake Charles
--Krewe of Omega: 2 p.m., downtown. http://www.swlamardigras.com.
Larose
--Le Krewe Du Bon Temps: 6 p.m. http://www.visitlafourche.com.
Lockport
--Krewe of Apollo: Noon. http://www.visitlafourche.com.
Metairie
--Krewe of Isis: 6:30 p.m. http://www.jeffparish.net.
New Orleans
--NOMTOC: 10:45 a.m., Westbank. http://www.nomtoc.org.
--Krewe of Iris: 11 a.m., Uptown. http://www.kreweofiris.org.
--Krewe of Tucks: Noon, Uptown. http://www.kreweoftucks.com.
--Krewe of Endymion: 4:15 p.m., Mid-City. http://www.endymion.org.
St. Martinville
--La Grande Boucherie des Cajuns: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Magnolia Park. http://www.stmartinville.org.
--Lake Fausse Mardi Gras Parade: 2 p.m., Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, 5400 Levee Road. (888) 942-3742. http://www.iberiatravel.com.
Slidell
--Krewe of Salt Bayou: 2 p.m.
Youngsville
--Youngsville Mardi Gras Parade: 11 a.m.
SUNDAY, FEB. 19
Church Point
--Courir de Mardi Gras: http://www.churchpointmardigras.com.
Des Allemands
--Krewe of Des Allemands: 1 p.m. http://www.stcharlesparish-la.gov.
Eunice
--Children’s Mardi Gras Run: 9 a.m., Eunice Recreational Complex (Sittig Road).
-- ‘Lil’ Mardi Gras Run: 3 p.m., truck and trailer parade. South on 2nd Street to Park Avenue.
Golden Meadow
--Krewe of Nereids: 6 p.m. http://www.visitlafourche.com.
Grand Isle
--Grand Isle Independent: 5:30 p.m.
Houma
--Krewe of Terreanians: 12:30 p.m., Westside route. http://www.houmatourism.com.
--Krewe of Montegut: 2 p.m., children’s parade. http://www.houmatourism.com.
Lake Charles
--Children’s Parade: 3 p.m. http://www.swlamardigras.com.
--Lighted Boat Parade: 7 p.m., on the Lake Charles.
LaPlace
--Krewe Du Monde: Noon.
Livonia
--Livonia Carnival Association Parade: 1 p.m., La. 77. http://www.pctourism.org.
Metairie
--Corps de Napoleon: 5:30 p.m. http://www.napoleonparade.com.
Morgan City
--Krewe of Galatea: 2 p.m., 2nd Street, ending on Myrtle Street. http://www.cajuncoast.com.
New Orleans
--Krewe of Okeanos: 11 a.m., Uptown. http://www.kreweofokeanos.org.
--Krewe of Mid-City: 11:45 a.m., Uptown. http://www.kreweofmidcity.com.
--Krewe of Thoth: noon, Uptown. http://www.thothkrewe.com.
--Krewe of Bacchus: 5:15 p.m., Uptown. http://www.kreweofbacchus.com.
Port Allen
--Krewe of Good Friends of the Oaks: 1 p.m., begins at South Jefferson and Oaks avenues, ends on North Jefferson Avenue.
St. Martinville
--Newcomer’s Mardi Gras Parade: 1 p.m., Main Street. http://www.stmartinville.org.
Thibodaux
--Krewe of Cleophas: 12:30 p.m. http://www.visitlafourche.com.
--Krewe of Chronos: 2 p.m. http://www.visitlafourche.com.
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. (337) 436-9588
--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.kreweofzulu.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 of Pointe Coupee Parade: 11 a.m. http://www.pctourism.org.
--New 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.