Mardi Gras is a holiday that begins every year on the Twelfth Night, which represents the Christian holy day of the Epiphany. This season allows people to celebrate before Christian Lent, which lasts up until Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday.
In celebration of Mardi Gras, Lafayette has many events and parades that allow people to come and celebrate this holiday.
Lafayette is having up to ten parades to celebrate Mardi Gras, and these parades have started from Feb. 2 and will last all the way till the day of Mardi Gras, Feb. 13.
Downtown Lafayette held their first parade of the Mardi gras season, Krewe de Canailles, a walking parade, on Feb. 2 at 7:00 p.m. The theme for this walking parade was “Into the Shadowverse.” The theme allowed for many people to be creative and go beyond Mardi Gras colors and beads.
According to the website, Krewe de Canailles is a parade for the people by the people, and allows for the people to be creative for this unique parade. With different themes for each Mardi Gras parade every year, “Into the Shadowverse” was 2024’s theme and as they have said, “In this realm, creativity knows no bounds.”
The next parade in celebration was Krewe des Chiens, which was a dog parade. The parade started at 12:00 p.m. on Feb. 3 in Downtown Lafayette and all the way to Johnston and Vermilion Streets. This parade is held every year to raise money for animal assistance organizations in the Acadiana area. According to their website, they have raised more than $400,000 since the first parade for dogs.
The Krewe of Carnivale en Rio Mardi Gras parade was held on Feb. 3 as well, at 6:30 p.m. and started in Downtown Lafayette and made its way to Cajun Field. The Krewe of Carnivale en Rio began in 2005 when a group of friends wanted to try something new in celebration of Mardi Gras. They were inspired by the world famous Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. The parade has up to 30 floats and has “dazzling lights and dancers,’’ and they throw beads and carry custom maracas for parade goers.
Le Festival de Mardi Gras à Lafayette is set to be at Cajun Field from Feb. 9-13. There will be carnival rides and games, as well as live music, food vendors, and parades going on around the festival grounds.
On Friday, Feb. 9, the carnival opens at 5:00 p.m. and closes at 11:00 p.m., and on Fe. 10-12 it will be open from 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. On Feb. 13, Mardi Gras day, it will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wristbands are on sale for $30 until Feb. 8, on their website, GoMardiGras.com.
On Feb. 9, there is the Lafayette Friday Night Parade which is starting in Downtown Lafayette at 6:30 p.m. and will make its way to Cajun field. This parade is hosted by The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association, which is the group that is also hosting Le Festival de Mardi Gras à Lafayette. This parade intends to kick off the Mardi Gras season and bring excitement to the community and the people attending.
The Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras Parade is on Feb. 10 and starts in Downtown Lafayette at 6:30 p.m. and ends at Cajun field. This parade was started for young adults to celebrate Mardi Gras.
A group of 20-year-olds came together and were determined to start a new Mardi Gras Krewe in 1972. Ever since 1972, they have had a parade every year to celebrate Mardi Gras with the community.
The Children’s Mardi Gras Parade is also on Feb. 10 and starts at 12:30 p.m. in Downtown Lafayette and will make its way to Cajun Field. This parade is also hosted by The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association. Also by the GSW, they have Queen Evangeline’s Parade on Feb. 12 at 6:00 p.m. starting in downtown Lafayette and making its way to Cajun field. They have King Gabriel’s parade on Feb. 13 at 10:00 a.m., starting and ending in the same place as Queen Evangeline’s.
The Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade and the Independent Parade are the last two parades in Lafayette. The Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade is one of the major parades in celebration of Mardi gras and will be starting downtown at 1:00 p.m. and ending at Cajun field.
Lafayette has many parades and events that will keep you busy during Mardi Gras season. There’s plenty to do and so many that you can go to. Not only is Lafayette celebrating, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will be hosting the Krewe of Roux Shoebox Competition from Feb. 6-7 in the Evangeline Art Gallery from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
This is a walk through event for students and allows student organizations to participate in making shoebox floats to show students creativity in celebration of Mardi Gras.
The Krewe of Roux masquerade Ball is also hosted by UL Lafayette’s University Program Center. It will be in the Student Union Ballroom on Feb. 8 from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The attire is semi-formal and it is recommended that masks are worn. In order to attend you must be 17 years of age or older. It is free for students with a valid UL ID. This is another way for students to get together and celebrate Mardi Gras.
UL Lafayette and the city of Lafayette have so much for students and the community to do during the Mardi Gras season. There is no room for boredom with so many parades and events such as the Krewe of Roux Masquerade Ball or Le Festival de Mardi Gras à Lafayette to celebrate.