Or, an exhaustive (select) list of parades and other activities around Acadiana, compiled for your convenience
Friday, Feb. 17
Friday Night Parade
Downtown to Cajun Field
6:30 p.m.
Featuring multiple krewes from the Greater Southwest Mardi Gras Association.
Krewe de Canaille Mardi Gras Dance
La Poussiere Dance Hall, Breaux Bridge
7-11 p.m.
Admission: $10
Music will be provided by Sheryl Cormier & Cajun Sound. For more information call 394-4211.
Saturday, Feb. 18
Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras Parade
Downtown to Cajun Field
6:30 p.m.
For more information call 800-346-1958 or visit gomardigras.com.
La Grand Boucherie Des Cajuns
Magnolia Park, St. Martinville
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Bring family and friends and a picnic for a Mardi Gras in the park with Cajun & zydeco music, arts & crafts, food, fun, refreshments and the butchering of a hog. Parade starts at 2 p.m. Call 229-6173 for more information.
Children's Parade
Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
12:30 p.m.
Featuring the Greater Southwest Mardi Gras Association children's krewes. Free Admission.
Call 800-346-1958 or visit gomardigras.com for more information.
Lake Fausse Pointe Mardi Gras Parade
Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, 5400 Levee Road, St. Martinville
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Admission: Free
Mardi Gras parade with lots of floats, bands, dance groups, Mardi Gras royalty, the Grand Marshal and tons of throws. Food booths and music can be found along the parade route. Parade starts at 2 p.m. Call 229-6173 for more information.
Jennings Mardi Gras Festival & Parade
Founder's Park, Main Street., Jennings
10:30 a.m.
Admission: Free
Activities begin in Founder's Park on Main Street at 10:30 a.m. Great food will be available 10:30 a.m.-noon. Great classic Cajun music will also be on stage. Parade begins at 4:30 p.m. Music and dance following parade.
St. Martinville Cornucopia Ball
Cade Community Center, Smede Highway, St. Martinville
7 p.m.
Admission: $15, $110/table
The Cornucopia Ball is the annual Children's Carnival, sponsored by the Creole Farmers Market Committee of St. Martinville. Every year the committee chooses a king and queen, debutantes and dukes, along with children ages pre-k to seventh grade to portray the themes' characters. Every year a theme is chosen and the script is written to support the theme. This year the theme is "Louisiana Festivals." A DJ will play until 11 p.m. for the children and their parents to enjoy. This is a non-alcoholic event. Refreshments will be sold by a local youth organization. For more information, please contact Brenda Courville at 789-3592, Laurie Verret at 523-1640 or Gisele Buillard at 247-4392.
Sunday, Feb. 19
Newcomers Social Civic Club's Traditional Annual Mardi Gras Parade
Main Street, St. Martinville
1-4 p.m.
Parade will travel down Highway 31 (Main Street), starting at St. Martinville Senior High School and ending at Main and Denier streets. For float participation please contact Clara Baptiste at 380-6031.
Monday, Feb. 20
Lundi Gras at the Village
828 E. Landry St., Opelousas
5-8 p.m.
Admission: Free
Opelousas' Mardi Gras celebration gets rolling with live zydeco/Cajun music at the historic Le Vieux Village in Opelousas. Enjoy the sounds of Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie from 6-8 p.m., boucherie demonstration and tours of the historic Le Vieux Village.
Queen's Parade
Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
6 p.m.
Admission: Free
Celebrating Queen Evangeline and her Court.
12th Carnival D'Acadie
Downtown Crowley
3-11 p.m.
Admission: Free
A Carnival celebration with musical entertainment, carnival rides, street dancing, festival foods and more.
Tuesday, Feb. 21
King's Parade
Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
10 a.m.
Celebrating King Gabriel, who reigns over the Lafayette Mardi Gras. For more information call 800-346-1958 or visit gomardigras.com.
Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade
Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
1 p.m.
Celebrating King Toussaint L'Ouverture and Queen Suzanne Simmone. For more information call 800-346-1958 or visit gomardigras.com.
Fox 15 Independent Parade
Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
2 p.m.
Admission: Free
Call 237-1500 for more information or visit gomardigras.com
12th Carnival D'Acadie
Downtown, Crowley
10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Admission: Free
A Carnival celebration with musical entertainment, carnival rides, street dancing and festival foods, with a traditional parade featuring bands, floats and plenty of beads.
Feb. 17-19
51st Cour de Mardi Gras
Saddle Tramp Club House, 1036 E. Ebey St.; Downtown for parades, Church Point
Fri. 4:30-10:30 p.m., Sat. 7:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Admission: Free
Fri.-Gumbo cook-off, Sat.-Children's Run & Children's Parade, Sun.-Adult Run & Courir de Mardi Gras Parade. Carnival and live entertainment each day.
Feb. 19-21
12th Carnival D'Acadie (Mardi Gras)
Downtown, Crowley
Sun. 3-10 p.m., Mon. 3-11 p.m., Tues. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Admission: Free
A Carnival celebration with music entertainment, carnival rides, street dancing, festival foods, with a traditional parade featuring bands, floats and plenty of beads.
Feb. 17-21
Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette
Cajun Field, Lafayette
Saturday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Sunday and Monday, noon to midnight; Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
View full lineup here.
Presented by the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association, the festival includes an exciting carnival midway, native Cajun foods and an outstanding line-up of live entertainment. To make the festival a complete Mardi Gras experience, all of Lafayette's parades roll through the festival grounds. Musical performances include Marc Broussard, The Molly Ringwalds, Horace Trahan and many more. Go online for a complete list of performers and call 800-346-1958 for more information.