Your Guide to Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge
Get ready to get into the spirit this Mardi Gras season in Baton Rouge!
Each year, thousands of revelers gather in the city to experience a family-friendly celebration like no other.
Baton Rouge’s Mardi Gras is the perfect blend of excitement and charm, offering something for everyone — from vibrant, beautifully crafted floats to marching bands, costumed pups, and even quirky krewes pushing decked-out lawnmowers. And those pink flamingos? You’ll have to see for yourself!
With its welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere and unforgettable parades, Baton Rouge is the ultimate Mardi Gras destination. Don’t miss your chance to grab a front-row spot to join the fun and start planning your visit today.
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Krewe of Oshun
Saturday, January 31, 2026, 12 p.m.
Scotlandville Parkway
Kick off Mardi Gras season with the Krewe of Oshun Parade & Festival the last weekend in January. As the first parade of the season in Baton Rouge, this vibrant celebration brings the community together to honor the history and culture of North Baton Rouge. Hosted by North Baton Rouge Now, Inc., the event is packed with lively bands, dance teams, schools, social clubs, and entertainers. The parade starts at noon immediately followed by a festival full of entertainment and family-friendly fun.
Krewe of Artemis
Friday, February 6, 2026, 7 p.m.
Downtown Baton Rouge
Mark your calendars for when the Krewe of Artemis hits the streets of Baton Rouge! As the city’s only all-female Mardi Gras krewe, Artemis brings a unique charm to the season. Named after the Greek goddess and protector of children, this beloved tradition promises a full-length, NOLA-style nighttime parade perfect for the whole family. Grab the kids, head Downtown, and get ready to make memories at this parade! Click here to view the parade route.
Krewe Mystique
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Downtown Baton Rouge
On Saturday, February 7th, the Krewe Mystique rolls into Downtown Baton Rouge, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1977. Known as one of Baton Rouge’s premier parades, this krewe brings Mardi Gras magic to the entire Capital City and is not tied to any specific neighborhood or group. With dazzling floats, marching bands, and the grand reveal of the royal court, it’s no wonder Krewe Mystique is one of the longest-running parades in Baton Rouge. Photo courtesy of Krewe Mystique.
Krewe of Orion
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Downtown Baton Rouge
Get ready for a memorable night when the Krewe of Orion takes over the streets of Downtown Baton Rouge, ending with a bang at the Raising Cane’s River Center. Founded in 1998 and named after the mythological hunter of the skies, this full-scale nighttime parade is a true Mardi Gras tradition. With over 300 members, the Krewe of Orion delivers dazzling, colorfully lit floats, masked riders, marching bands, and dance groups, making it a family-friendly favorite.
Mid City Gras
Sunday, February 8, 2026, 2 p.m.
North Boulevard
Get ready for Baton Rouge’s nuttiest celebration! The Mid City Gras Parade will make its way down North Boulevard on Sunday, February 8th, bringing a burst of eclectic, vibrant fun to the heart of the city. This family-friendly parade is as quirky as it is colorful, featuring a krewe of squirrels and a lively lawnmower brigade. Celebrating the diverse and inclusive spirit of Mid City, it’s a Mardi Gras event you won’t want to miss! Click here to view the parade route. Photo courtesy of Mid City Gras Facebook.
Krewe of Southdowns
Friday, February 13, 2026, 7 p.m.
Beginning at Glasgow Middle School and ending at Acadian-Perkins Shopping Center
Baton Rouge’s oldest night parade, the Krewe of Southdowns, will light up the Southdowns neighborhood on Friday, February 13th. Inspired by the classic Mardi Gras flambeaux parades, the Southdowns Flambeaux leads the way with flickering torches, followed by original, hand-built floats. Enjoy a family-friendly evening fit for royalty, with dazzling lights, themed dancers, and all the Mardi Gras magic you can handle!
Spanish Town Mardi Gras
Saturday, February 14, 2026, 12 p.m.
Downtown Baton Rouge
Celebrate the morning of Valentine's Day this year at Baton Rouge's largest Mardi Gras parade of the season, Spanish Town! Held on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday, this vibrant parade rolls through the historic Spanish Town district, where it all began in 1981. With its quirky mascot beingthe pink flaming, Spanish Town celebrates its eclectic, one of kind character. Keep an eye out for those flocks of flamingos in the LSU Lakes, and you might even spot a few residents proudly “adopting” one of these iconic birds to stow away for themselves or prop up in front of their houses. So, put on your pink and head downtown for a parade that’s truly one-of-a-kind. Click here to view the parade route.
Zachary Mardi Gras Parade
Sunday, February 15, 2026, 2 p.m.
Zachary, Louisiana
Gather your krewe for Zachary's inaugural Mardi Gras celebration. Themed "Celebrating Everyday Heroes," this parade will feature floats, marching bands, and local organizations from across our region. The parade route starts at Church Street Park, continuing along Main Street, and ending at Ridgeway. Click here for the official parade route, and make your plans to celebrate carnival season in Zachary!
Krewe of Shenandoah
Monday, February 16, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Tiger Bend and Jones Creek Road
The Krewe of Shenandoah will be held on Lundi Gras. Its mascot is Dimple the golf ball, drawing on its roots of originally being developed as a golf course, and the route will begin and end at Tiger Bend and Jones Creek Road. You don't want to miss out on closing the season at this parade! Click here to view the route.
CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts
Sunday, February 22, 2026, 2 p.m.
Downtown Baton Rouge
Who let the dogs out! The Mystic Krewe of Mutts parade will take over Downtown Baton Rouge and it’s all about the pups. This tail-wagging tradition, benefiting the Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (CAAWS), is your chance to dress up your furry friends and strut their stuff. Feeling extra festive? Register your dog to join the parade — it’s the ulti-mutt way to celebrate! Every sponsorship supports CAAWS’ spay/neuter program and animal welfare services, so you’re not just having fun; you’re making a pawsitive impact. Grab your leash and let the good times roll — because who doesn’t love a parade full of adorable pups?
More Mardi Gras Weekend Festivities In Baton Rouge & Beyond:
Donaldsonville's Mardi Gras Parade
Sunday, January 5, 2026 at 2 p.m.
Mardi Gras Mambo Run
Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 8 a.m.
Krewe of Ascension's Mardi Gras Mambo Parade
Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 2 p.m. in Gonzales
Livonia Carnival Association Mardi Gras Parade - Livonia
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Krewe of Comogo - Plaquemine
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Festival - North Boulevard Town Square
Saturday, February 14, 2026
New Roads Lions Club Mardi Gras Parade - New Roads
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Krewe of Denham Springs Mardi Gras Parade
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