Historical Lafayette, Lousiana, is home to one of the greatest Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States. Authentic French traditions, cajun cuisine, and fantastic music make this celebration a one-of-a-kind event. Visitors can observe numerous parades, rural Courir de Mardi Gras, dances by Mardi Gras Indians, and other fun activities. Don't forget to try a traditional king cake, throw beads and doubloons, and see Mardi Gras king and queen.
Mardi Gras Parades
Parades that start two weeks before the Mardi Gras begin at the corner of Simcoe, Jefferson, and Surrey streets in Lafayette. All processions end at Cajun Field, where the festivities last with live music, excellent food, countless performances, and shows. The Cajun Field also has a carnival midway, vendors, and all kinds of entertainment.
Courir de Mardi Gras
The “Courir de Mardi Gras” is an authentic rural Louisiana tradition when a group of masked riders on horses go from house to house, singing, dancing, and asking for food to make a gumbo. Villages can throw a chicken, and riders are supposed to catch it. After lots of fun, jokes, and merriments, the whole village gathers to cook gumbo and party.
Mardi Gras traditions
The most famous Mardi Gras food is king cake, a pastry that contains a tiny plastic statue of the Christ child. If you find the baby Jesus in the king cake, you must buy the next one. You can try dozens of king cake varieties during Lafayette Mardi Gras.
Another tradition is to throw beads and doubloons during a parade. It originated in the 1870s during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans.
Main events
Lafayette festivities usually start with Krewe de Canailles Walking Parade in Downtown, which takes place about two weeks before the Fat Tuesday. It continues with Krewe of Carnivale en Rio Mardi Gras Parade and celebration at Cajun Field. The celebration culminates with Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade, held on Fat Tuesday at 1 pm.
Beyond these well-recognized events, the carnival season in Lafayette beams with unique celebrations, such as children's parades, family festivals, balls, runs, and shows. The full list embracing several dozens of entries can be found by the link in the External Resources below.
