The barricades are out, so it must be time for Mardi Gras in Lafayette.
Photo by Robin May
It’s not the big city, and it’s not the country. Lafayette is its own breed of Mardi Gras, full of barricades, RVs, pickup truck floats, street vendors and plenty of food and music everywhere you turn. Le Festival de Mardi Gras a’ Lafayette kicks off over the weekend at Cajundome Field, and on Tuesday evening Clark Field hosts the celebrated Creole Mardi Gras dance and costume contest. Mardi Gras parades, which kicked off with the Krewe of Rio last weekend, pick back up on Friday night and continue through the weekend.
Here’s the parade schedule for Lafayette’s Mardi Gras:
Friday, Feb. 20 — Friday Night Parade, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 21 — Children’s Mardi Gras Parade, 12:30 p.m.; Bonaparte Parade, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 23 — Queen’s Parade, 6 p.m.
Tuesday Feb. 24 — King’s Parade, 10 a.m.; Independent Parade, 2 p.m.
Over at Cajun Field, along with all the rides at Le Festival de Mardi Gras, there are also five days worth of music.
On Friday night beginning at 6 p.m., check out Leon Chavis & the Zydeco Flames, T. Graham Brown, and Travis Matte at 10 p.m. On Saturday the music starts with Full Circle at 1:30 p.m., followed by Donna Angelle & the Zydeco Posse, Krossfyre, Kevin Fowler, and Jamie Bergeron. On Sunday are Leah Lapoint, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, Britton Newton & Open End, Without Warning, Cracker Jackson, and the Molly Ringwalds. Monday, check out Louisiana Kids starting at 2 p.m., followed by Lil’ Nathan & The Zydeco Big Timers, Mike & The Rockets, Hunter Hayes, and Wayne Toups. On Mardi Gras day, the music starts at 11 a.m. with Kira Viator & Bayou Beat, Lafayette’s Bayou Boys, and Greg Martinez.
For a map of the parade route through Lafayette a complete list of performances and times, visit swmardigras.com.
And on Mardi Gras day, there’s the inaugural Mardi Gras Bowl Jam at the newly constructed public bowl and ramp park located behind the Goodwill store on Johnston Street. There will be bowl and streets contests as well as free live music provided by Greg Ginn & The Texas Corrugators, The Blessed, Six String Rodeo, and 10-Ton Junkie. Skaters will be out there all day, ripping it up in the new bowl as the parades roll.