Mark your calendars: Acadiana towns celebrate Mardi Gras with parades and courirs (2024)

Mardi Gras season is coming fast and furious this year. With only three and a half weeks left to go until Fat Tuesday, the Acadiana regions' first parades will start to roll this Saturday, Jan. 20, in Rayne and Gueydan— then the party will be in full swing until Lent.

Acadiana offers several options for celebrating Carnival a little off the beaten path. This year you can find parades and other events from Opelousas to Jeanerette, including courirs, walking parades, dog parades— even a wagon parade.

According to the Sunset Mardi Gras Association, they won't be hosting "your typical parade" in St. Landry Parish. Their second annual Kidz Wagon Parade on Jan. 28 only allows non-motorized vehicles, such as wagons, bicycles, or wheelchairs if needed. Or, if you prefer parading by boat, there's an option for you too down at Cypremort Point State Park. The Cypremort Point Mardi Gras Boat Parade sets sail on Feb. 10.

Wherever you are, and however you prefer to Mardi Gras, this list of celebrations across Acadiana will have something for you.

Acadia Parish

January 20

2 p.m.: Rayne Mardi Gras Parade

February 10

10 a.m.:Saddle Tramp Rider’s Club Children’s Courir de Mardi Gras, Church Point. Followed by a parade at 1 p.m.

February 11

8 a.m.:Saddle Tramp Rider’s Club Adult Courir de Mardi Gras, Church Point. Followed by a parade at 1 p.m.

February 13

9 a.m.: Tee Mamou Courir de Mardi Gras, Iota

Evangeline Parish

February 13

7 a.m.: Courir de Mardi Gras, Mamou

Iberia Parish

January 28

3:00 p.m.: Bayou Mardi Gras Parade, New Iberia

February 4

1 p.m.: Krewe of Ezana Parade, Jeanerette

February 11

1 p.m.: Grand Marais Mardi Gras Parade, Jeanerette

February 13

2 p.m.: Papa Red Dog Mardi Gras Parade, Loreauville

Jefferson Davis Parish

January 20

9 a.m.: Welsh Mardi Gras Kids' Run, Welsh

January 27

3:30 p.m.: Welsh Mardi Gras Parade

February 3

8 a.m.: Lake Arthur Mardi Gras Run and Parade

February 10

10 a.m.: Jennings Mardi Gras

Lafayette Parish

January 27

11 a.m.: Carencro Mardi Gras Parade

February 2

7 p.m.: Krewe de Canailles Walking Parade, Downtown Lafayette

February 3

10 a.m.: Krewe des Chiens Dog Parade,Lafayette

10 a.m.: Scott Mardi Gras Parade

6:30 p.m.: Krewe of Carnivale en Rio Mardi Gras Parade, Lafayette

February 4

10 a.m.: Courir de Mardi Gras at Vermilionville, Lafayette

February 9

Festival de Mardi Gras opens at Cajun Field, Lafayette. Closes at 6 p.m., Feb. 13.

6:30 p.m.: Krewe Allons Friday Night Kick-Off Parade, Lafayette

February 10

11 a.m.: Youngsville Mardi Gras Parade

12:30 p.m.: Children’s Mardi Gras Parade, Lafayette

6:30 p.m.: Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras Parade, Lafayette

February 12

6:00 p.m.: Queen Evangeline's Parade, Lafayette

February 13

10:00 a.m.: King Gabriel's Parade, Lafayette

1:00 p.m.: Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade

2:30 p.m.: Independent Mardi Gras Parade, Lafayette

St. Landry Parish

January 28

12 p.m.: Kidz Wagon Parade and Free Family Fun Day, Sunset

February 9

6:30 p.m.: Eunice Mardi Gras Festival begins. Closes 7 p.m., Feb. 13.

February 10

9 a.m.: Cankton Courir de Mardi Gras

3 p.m.: Eunice Paw Parade

February 11

3 p.m.: Lil Mardi Gras Children's Parade, Eunice

February 12

9:30 a.m.: Lundi Gras Boucherie, Lakeview Park, Eunice

February 13

8 a.m.: Faquetaigue Courir de Mardi Gras, Eunice

11 a.m.: Opelousas Mardi Gras Parade

3 p.m.: Courir de Mardi Gras Parade, Eunice

St. Mary Parish

February 9

7 p.m.: Krewe of Adonis Mardi Gras Parade, Morgan City

February 10

1 p.m.: Baldwin Mardi Gras Parade

1 p.m.: Cypremort Point Mardi Gras Boat Parade, Cypremort Point State Park

2 p.m.: Krewe of Dionysius Mardi Gras Parade, Berwick

February 11

2 p.m.: Krewe of Galatea Mardi Gras Parade, Morgan City

2:30 p.m.: Krewe of Nike Children's Parade, Morgan City

February 12

2 p.m.: Krewe of Amani Mardi Gras Parade, Patterson

7 p.m.: Krewe of Hera Mardi Gras Parade, Morgan City

February 13

1 p.m.: Franklin Mardi Gras Parade

1 p.m.: Siracusaville Mardi Gras Parade

2 p.m.: Krewe of Hephaestus Mardi Gras Parade, Morgan City

Vermilion Parish

January 20

9 a.m.: Le Krewe du Le Originales et Les Enfants Mardi Gras Run and Parade, Gueydan. The Gueydan Mardi Gras Parade will follow the run at 3 p.m.

February 13

2 p.m.: Krewe Chic-a-la-pie Mardi Gras Parade, Kaplan