St.Louis Mardi Gras (Soulard Mardi Gras) 2025 in Midwest

St. Louis, named after French royalty and once dubbed 'The Paris of the West,' celebrates Mardi Gras with grandeur, especially in the Soulard neighborhood, named after the city's founder, Antoine Soulard. The Soulard Mardi Gras kicks off with Twelfth Night on January 6 and continues through Fat Tuesday. The season is packed with major parades, balls, smaller processions, and charity events throughout the city, making it one of the largest Mardi Gras celebrations outside of New Orleans.

Schedule of Events

Festivities begin with the 12th Night on January 6, followed by the BOS Family Winter Carnival and Shoebox Float Gallery on January 18. In February, highlights include the Fords Gin Scavenger Hunt on February 8, the Cajun Cook-Off on February 15, and the Supplement Superstores Run For Your Beads 5K on February 22, coinciding with the Taste of Soulard running February 22-23. February 23 is packed with the popular Purina Pet Parade and Tito’s Vodka Wiener Dog Derby. The celebration peaks with the Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball on February 28. The grand finale arrives on March 1 with the Bud Light Grand Parade, accompanied by the Bud Light Party Tent and the Sunset Hills Subaru Blues Alumni Experience in The Big Tent.

Purina Pet Parade (February 23, 2025)

The Purina Pet Parade is a much-loved highlight of the St. Louis Mardi Gras celebrations. The Purina Pet Parade, part of St. Louis Mardi Gras, begins at 1 pm from 12th Street and Allen Avenue, with on-site registration starting at 10 am. The $10 registration fee goes to the Open Door Animal Sanctuary. Costumed pets can vie for a spot in the Mystical Krewe of Barkus, with a King and Queen crowned in a Coronation Pageant at Soulard Market Park. After the parade, attendees can enjoy nearby events like the Taste of Soulard and Wiener Dog Derby.

Bud Light Grand Parade (March 1, 2025)

The Bud Light Grand Parade is the centerpiece of St. Louis’s Mardi Gras festivities, drawing huge crowds as the biggest Mardi Gras parade in the U.S. outside of New Orleans. Starting at 11 am at Busch Stadium, the parade winds through Downtown South and Soulard, concluding at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Each year features a new theme, inspiring over 100 decorated floats and throwing millions of beads to cheering attendees. The event also includes live music and Cajun food offerings throughout the Soulard neighborhood.

For an upgraded experience, the Bud Light Party Tent offers an all-day celebration (9 am - 5:30 pm) for $150, with open bars, DJ sets, and live music performances, including a set from country artist Mitchell Tenpenny. The heated tent is conveniently located near the parade route.