Mardi Gras: A Statewide Celebration

When you hear the phrase Mardi Gras, parades, costumes and food covered in purple, green and gold – the official colors of the holiday — usually come to mind. But one misconception often attached to these visions is that Mardi Gras is exclusive to New Orleans.

While visiting New Orleans on Mardi Gras day guarantees a good time, an entire season of events across the state offers unique and exciting ways to celebrate. Mardi Gras is just one day, but Louisiana celebrates the entire Carnival season, which begins on the Feast of Epiphany, January 6, and culminates on Mardi Gras (which falls on a different date each year). All throughout that season, every corner of the state is celebrating in its own unique ways, from parades and royal balls

Family Events

Though Mardi Gras is often thought of as an adults-only party, plenty of locations across the state offer family-friendly events. Several cities host pet parades, where pups take to the streets in their own cute and crazy costumes. These events are a blast for children and adults alike, and some even raise money for local pet shelters. In Lafayette, the Courir des Enfants and Lundi Gras Party is a festive children’s Mardi Gras parade. Children dress in costumes, play Cajun music and go “begging” for gumbo ingredients. Parades featuring musicians, families and bead-tossers can be found all across the state, from Lafayette to Shreveport. 

Courir de Mardi Gras

Courir de Mardi Gras can be found in rural areas of Cajun Country such as Eunice, Mamou and Church Point. In this celebration, costumed locals go from house to house on horseback, performing tricks and stunts in an effort to impress residents enough to receive donations of chicken, sausage, vegetables and rice, used to make a massive gumbo for a community party. It also includes a traditional chicken chase, live music, street dances, cooking demos and more.

Unique Throws

A “throw” is anything krewe members throw to parade-goers. Throws are typically beads, doubloons, cups or toys. But some krewes are embracing unique throws, including everything from monogrammed toilet paper (like in the New Orleans Krewe of Tucks parade) to Spam and hot dogs. 

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