Acadiana has become known as the home of family friendly Mardi Gras — drawing crowds of more than 300,000 from around the nation and the world.
Mardi Gras in Lafayette may have started out as a small version of New Orleans’ giant party, but it’s grown into its own over the years.
Mardi Gras season, sometimes called Carnival season, begins Jan. 6, on the Christian feasts of the Epiphany and culminates on the day before Ash Wednesday, 47 days before Easter. The celebration dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. Over time, Christianity incorporated popular traditions, and the excess and debauchery of the Mardi Gras season eventually became a prelude to Lent.
This year, Fat Tuesday falls on March 5.
Acadiana has become known as the family friendly alternative to New Orleans Mardi Gras — drawing crowds of more than 300,000 from around the nation and the world.
So, if you are new to the area or one of thousands of visitors, welcome. Consider us your guide to all things Mardi Gras.
Lafayette's Mardi Gras parades begin dowtown at the junction of Simcoe, Surrey and Jefferson streets. The three-mile route winds through downtown and down Johnston to College, ending at Cajun Field.
In Lafayette, parade season traditionally kicks off with is the Krewe of Rio. This year, Rio will be pre-empted by Lafayette's first walking parade, the Krewe des Canailles, which takes place on Friday, Feb. 22.
In the society world, Mardi Gras is like the World Series of social events. Only it takes place over many, many weeks. The gowns, the tuxes, the royalty, the pageants — local Mardi Gras krewes prepare all year for their ball. They are grand affairs that follow time-honored traditions. Even if you don't belong to a krewe or you weren't lucky enough to get a ball invitation, you may want to consult the schedule. Traffic around party venues can be a bear during Mardi Gras.
QUIZ: How much do you know about Lafayette's krewes?
In many areas, king cake is associated with the festival of Epiphany at the end of the Christmas season. In South Louisiana, it is synonymous with Mardi Gras.
Like a traditional French king cake made of puff pastry and marzipan? Prefer a king cake that's braided, filled and fried up like a doughnut? How about a whole-wheat or a gluten-free one? In Acadiana, the king cake options are plenty.
In Cajun Country, Mardi Gras isn't just an event, it describes those dressed in rags and masks who — traditionally — go door to door for community feast ingredients.
The Courir de Mardi Gras, held in many small towns around Acadiana, features costumed men and women on horseback and trucks who travel the countryside to beg neighbors for ingredients to a gumbo, usually with a musical band and onlookers following behind. Once they back in town, a communal gumbo is traditionally cooked and enjoyed, sometimes accompanied by a fais do-do or community dance.
You can experience courirs in such communities as Church Point and Mamou. You can also get a taste of the tradition Feb. 24 at Courir de Mardi Gras at Vermilionville.
Bookmark this page; we will add photos from balls, parades and courirs as they occur.