A&E

MARDI GRAS 2017 PARADE SCHEDULE

Mardi Gras isn’t just for adults. Kids can get in on the fun, too. Here are the local activities happening this Mardi Gras season.

FRIDAY, FEB. 24

_Le Festival de Mardi Gras
_
“Kickoff” Parade
Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
6:30 p.m.
GoMardiGras.com

The full route will be from Surrey to Jefferson to Bertrand to Cajun Field into Fairgrounds.

**_Downtown Opelousas
_**Mardi Gras Celebration
Delta Grand Theatre, 120 S. Market St., Opelousas
7 - 10 p.m.
CajunTravel.com

Get into the carnival spirit with live zydeco music by Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie. This event is dedicated to preserving and promoting the distinct Cajun and Creole roots that are traced back to the city’s rich history. This celebration is held the Friday before Mardi Gras Day every year featuring a contest for the best Mardi Gras costume with prizes to be given away. Free admission.

FRIDAY - SUNDAY, FEB. 24 - 26

**_Lil Nate’s 7th Annual L’Argent
_**Trailride, Chicken Run & Parade
Zydeco Hall of Fame & Yambilee Arena
Building, Opelousas
CajunTravel.com

It’s Mardi Gras weekend in Opelousas with parades, a chicken run, and zydeco headliners including Lil Nate, Chris Ardoin, Brian Jack and Leon Chavis.

FRIDAY-TUESDAY, FEB. 24 - 28

**_Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette
_**Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
GoMardiGras.com

Enjoy carnival rides and games, live music, food vendors and parades rolling through the festival grounds.

SATURDAY, FEB. 25

**_Children’s Parade
_**Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
12:30 p.m.
GoMardiGras.com.

The partial route is from Lafayette Public Library to Cajundome Boulevard.

**_Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras Parade
_**Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
6:30 p.m.
GoMardiGras.com

**_Youngsville Mardi Gras Parade
_**Public Works building to Fountain View,
Youngsville.
11 a.m.
LafayetteTravel.com

SATURDAY - SUNDAY, FEB. 25 - 26

**_56th Annual Cajun Courire de Mardi Gras Run
_**Saddle Tramp Club House, 1036 E. Ebey
St., Church Point
Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - Sunday, 6:30 p.m.
Churchpointmardigras.com

Courire de Mardi Gras starts Saturday with the children’s run, beginning at the Saddle Tramp Club House with sign up at 8 a.m., run starts at 8:30 a.m. The downtown parade starts at 12:30 p.m. Awards follow at club house at 1 p.m. On Sunday, the Courire begins at 8 a.m. and ends downtown for a parade at 1:30 p.m. All events start and end at Saddle Tramp club House on East Ebey Street. Traditional gumbo, boudin and beverages will be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

**_Queen Evangeline’s Parade
_**Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
6 p.m.
GoMardiGras.com

MONDAY - TUESDAY, FEB. 27 - 28

**_17th Annual Carnival D’Acadie
_**Downtown Crowley, 11 N. Parkerson Ave.
Acadiatourism.org

This two-day carnival kicks off on Lundi Gras with fair rides, food and fun for all. The revelry continues Tuesday, Mardi Gras Day with costume contests, more live entertainment, more festival cuisine and in the afternoon the Grand Mardi Gras Parade, which includes bands, floats and plenty of Mardi Gras beads.

TUESDAY, FEB. 28

**_Mardi Gras Indians Show at Clark Field
_**Clark Field, Park Avenue, Lafayette
5 p.m.
MardiGrasLafayette.com

The Mardi Gras experience in Lafayette is one to remember. North Lafayette’s cultural diversity is on “display.” Experience music, food, designers, dancers and fun. Admission is free for children ages 12 and under. Admission for adults is $5 and admission for high school students is $3.

**_King Gabriel’s Parade
_**Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
10 a.m.
GoMardiGras.com

**_Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade
_**Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
1 p.m.
GoMardiGras.com.

**_KADN Fox 15 Independent Parade.
_**Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
2 p.m.
GoMardiGras.com

**_Southwest Mardi Gras Association Pageant & Ball (public)
_**Heymann Performing Arts Center, 1373 S.
College Road, Lafayette.
337-291-5540
HeymannCenter.com.

**_18th Annual Half Fast Krewe of Frank’s Mardi Gras Parade
_**600 block of E. Landry St., Opelousas
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
CajunTravel.com

The Half-Fast Krewe of Frank Mardi Gras parade has earned a reputation for being family friendly with at least 30 floats, lots of beads, marching bands and dance troupes. The parade lasts approximately an hour starting at the 600 block of East Landry Street heading west to pass Courthouse Square then turn up Bellevue Street to head back to its starting point. Once the parade is over, the street party begins and will last until 6 p.m.

**_Eunice Courir de Mardi Gras
_**Northwest Community Center, 501 Samuel
Drive, Eunice
6 a.m.
Eunice-LA.com

The traditional rural Mardi Gras celebration is based on early begging rituals. Riders go from house to house soliciting “donations” of food items to culminate in a community-wide
gumbo. Registration is required for the adult and youth chicken runs. Registration begins at 6 a.m. at the. Participants must be 18 or older.

**_Sunset Mardi Gras Parade
_**Downtown Sunset
2 p.m.
CajunTravel.com

Once one of the largest Mardi Gras celebrations in the area, Sunset brings the carnival season activities back. This event will feature a parade, local food vendors, face painting
and more. Route begins behind Janise’s Supermarket on the I-49 Service Road, left on Duffy Ave., then right on Napoleon Ave., left on Hwy. 93, and end at Zach Miller
Road. Free admission.

**_Carnival d’Acadie Parade
_**Downtown Crowley
3 p.m.
AcadiaTourism.org