A&E

It's on!

by Walter Pierce

Parade barricades went up this morning. Lafayette processions commence Saturday.

The 10 days of Saturnalia leading up to Mardi Gras commence in Lafayette Saturday night with the Krewe of Carnivale en Rio parade. Technically they begin during the daylight hours with the Krewe des Chiens dog parade at 3 p.m. But dogs don't party.

Lafayette Consolidated Government crews along with trusties from the parish jail were out in force Thursday morning connecting the network of barricades that run from Pontiac Point through downtown, along Johnston Street to North College and the parades' destination, Cajun Field, where the annual Le Festival de Mardi Gras gets into full swing on Friday, Feb. 28 with live music, a carnival midway and rude humans.

Here's your complete Acadiana parade schedule and, below that, music lineup for the Cajun Field fest:

Parade Schedule Feb.  21

Krewe of Andalusia Mardi Gras Parade, Historic Downtown, 102 W Main St, New Iberia,  6:30 p.m.

Feb.  22

Krewe des Chiens Parade for Dogs, Downtown, 2 p.m.

Krewe of Carnivale en Rio Mardi Gras Parade, Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m.

Carencro Mardi Gras Parade, Starts at Carencro High. Ends by Carencro Community Center, 11 a.m

Feb.  23

Courir de Mardi Gras: Old-Fashion Mardi Gras Run, Vermilionville, 11 a.m. 3 p.m.

Scott Mardi Gras Parade, 1 p.m
Krewe of Ezana Jeanerette Mardi Gras Parade, Canal, MLK & Main St, Jeanerette, 1 p.m.

Feb.  28

Kick Off Parade, Downtown to Cajun Field, 6:30 p.m.

Cajun Country Mardi Gras

Downtown Eunice Street Dance, 2nd Street area, 7:30 p.m.

March 1

Courir de Mardi Gras Children's Mardi Gras Run, Downtown Church Point Saddle Tramp Club House, 8:30 a.m., Children's Parade at 1 p.m.

Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras Parade,

Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m.

Children's Parade, Downtown to Cajun Field, 12:30 p.m.

Youngsville Mardi Gras Parade, Public Works building to Fountain View, 11 a.m.

March 2

Carnival D'Acadie (Mardi Gras), Downtown, Crowley, crowley-la.com

Adult Courir de Mardi Gras Run, Downtown Church Point Saddle Tramp Club House, 7 a.m. and Mardi Gras in the Park 10 a.m. 6 p.m.

March 3

Queen Evangeline's Parade, Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

Lundi Gras at the Village, Le Vieux Village, 828 E. Landry St.,  Opelousas

Opelousas Lundi Gras Celebration, Opelousas Civic Center, 1638 Creswell Ln., 5:30 - 8 p.m.

March 4

Mardi Gras Show at Clark Field, Clark Field Stadium, Lafayette, 10 a.m. 8 p.m., mardigrasshow.com

King's Court Costume contest at 9 a.m. Bands and parade viewing throughout the day. Parc Sans Souci, 8:30 a.m. 4 p.m., downtownlafayette.org

Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade, Downtown to Cajun Field, 1 p.m.

King Gabriel's Parade, Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette, 10 a.m.

KADN Fox 15 Independent Parade, Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette, 2 p.m.

Southwest Mardi Gras Association Pageant and Ball, Heymann Performing Arts Center and Convention Center, 8 p.m.

Grand Marais Mardi Gras Parade, Hwy 90 E. at College Road, Jeanerette

Krewe of Coteau Mardi Gras Parade, Francis Romero Memorial Park and LA 88, Coteau

Family Affair Mardi Gras Parade, Main St., Loreauville

27th Tee Mamou-Iota Mardi Gras Folklife Festival, Downtown, Iota, 8 a.m. 5 p.m.

Krewe Chic-A-La-Pie Mardi Gras Parade, Downtown, Kaplan

Half Fast Krewe of Frank's Mardi Gras Parade, E Landry and Bellevue Streets, Opelousas

Eunice Courir de Mardi Gras, National Guard Armory and Downtown

Mamou Mardi Gras, Downtown, Mamou, 337-468-3105

Le Festival de Mardi Gras à Lafayette at Cajun Field Friday, Feb. 28

5 10 p.m. Moonlight Madness with all rides for $25

6 p.m. Kick off parade

6:30 p.m. Geno DeLafose

9:30 p.m. Frank Foster

Saturday, March 1

12:30 p.m. Children's Parade

1 p.m. Ted Broussard and Charlene Howard

6:30 p.m. Krewe of Bonaparte Parade

6:30 p.m. Tip Tops

3:30 p.m. One Trick Pony

9:30 p.m. The Chee Weez

Sunday, March 2

12 11 p.m. All rides $25

1:30 p.m. Corey Ledet

4:30 p.m. Caleb Elliot

6:30 p.m. Jaryd Lane

8:30 p.m. Cupid

9 p.m. The Molly Ringwalds

Monday, March 3

12 11 p.m. All rides $25

2 p.m. Louisiana Kids

3:30 p.m. Corey and the Zydeco Hot Peppers

6 p.m. Side Show

6:30 p.m. Queen Evangeline Parade

8 p.m. Ray Boudreaux

9:30 p.m. Wayne Toups

Tuesday, March 4

10 a.m. King Gabriel's Parade

11 a.m. Leon Chavis

1 p.m. Lafayette Mardi Gras Parade

1:30 p.m. Lafayette Bayou Boys

2:30 p.m. KADN Fox 15 Independent Parade

4 p.m. Gregg Martinez