Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge is an annual celebration attended by thousands each year who join in and experience the exciting activities hosted in the Red Stick. Known for being family-friendly, Baton Rouge Mardi Gras has a little bit of everything. From beautifully designed floats to costumed canines, marching bands to lawnmower-pushing krewes, Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge is one you don’t want to miss. Besides, don’t you want to know what exactly those pink flamingos are all about?
Start planning your trip today so you can snag a front-row seat to a fun-filled Baton Rouge Mardi Gras parade!
Mardi Gras Parades in Baton Rouge
KREWE OF OSHUN
Saturday, Jan. 20
North Baton Rouge
The Krewe of Oshun Parade & Festival will be the first to roll in the Baton Rouge area on Saturday, Jan. 20. Put on by North Baton Rouge Now, Inc., the Krewe of Oshun Parade & Festival provides an opportunity for the community to come together to enjoy the history and culture of Baton Rouge, as well as providing families with the opportunity to celebrate the joys of the community, share wisdom, lessons and engage local resources to support the development of North Baton Rouge. Welcoming all bands, dance teams, schools, social clubs and entertainers, the Krewe of Oshun Parade and Festival is sure to be a fun time! The parade kicks off at noon, with the festival entertainment and festivities immediately following.
Click here to view the parade route.
CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts
Sunday, Jan. 28
Downtown Baton Rouge
Mystic Krewe of Mutts will roll through Downtown Baton Rouge, on Sunday, Jan. 28. As an annual fundraiser for Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (CAAWS), this parade is for the pups. This parade is dog-friendly, and you can dress up the good girls and boys and bring them along for some fun. Better yet, you can even register to walk them in the parade! Each sponsorship goes directly to CAAWS' spay/neuter program and animal welfare services – making this a good cause made better by all the cute faces!
KREWE OF ARTEMIS
Friday, Feb. 2
Downtown Baton Rouge
The Krewe of Artemis parade will be third to roll in Baton Rouge on Friday, Feb. 2! This krewe is unique in that it is the first and only all-female parading Mardi Gras krewe in Baton Rouge. Ever since it was founded, the mission is to be Baton Rouge’s premier Mardi Gras event for the enjoyment of all members of the family. Krewe of Artemis is named for the Greek goddess, Artemis – the “Mistress of Animals” and protector of children – and is a beloved tradition in Baton Rouge. Load up the kids and head Downtown for a fun Friday night – this full-length, NOLA-style nighttime celebration is sure to be a good time for adults and kids alike!
Click here to view the parade route.
KREWE OF ORION
Sunday, Feb. 4
Downtown Baton Rouge
Krewe of Orion will roll through Downtown Baton Rouge and into the Raising Cane’s River Center on Sunday, Feb. 4. A full-scale nighttime parade of floats and marching bands, the Krewe of Orion parade is the hallmark of Mardi Gras tradition. The Krewe of Orion was founded in 1998 and has brought the spirit and tradition of Mardi Gras to Baton Rouge each year since its founding. Named for Orion, the mythological hunter of the skies, the Krewe has since grown to over 300 members, and annually brings an assortment of entertainment, family fun and service to the Baton Rouge community. Join in on the fun and tradition that is the Krewe of Orion Parade and experience exciting, colorfully lit floats, masked and costumed riders, dance groups and marching bands!
MID CITY GRAS
Sunday, Feb. 4
North Boulevard
The nuttiest parade in Baton Rouge will roll down North Boulevard on Sunday, Feb. 4. Mid City Gras is family-friendly and showcases the eclectic, vibrant and diverse community found in Baton Rouge’s Mid City neighborhood. Known for featuring a krewe of squirrels (hence the reason why it’s known as the nuttiest parade in Baton Rouge) and a lawnmower parade, the Mid City Gras Parade’s goal is to aim to enrich the heart of Baton Rouge and culminate each year in an inclusive Mardi Gras celebration.
Click here to view the parade route.
KREWE OF SOUTHDOWNS
Friday, Feb. 9
Beginning at Glasgow Middle School and ending at Acadian-Perkins Shopping Center
Baton Rouge’s oldest night parade, Krewe of Southdowns, will roll through the Southdowns neighborhood, beginning at Glasgow Middle School and ending at the Acadian-Perkins Shopping Center, on Friday, Feb. 9. Inspired by Mardi Gras flambeaux parades, the Southdowns Flambeaux leads the parade with lit torches as the original, hand-built floats make their way down the route. Enjoy a family-friendly night fit for a (Mardi Gras) king or queen and complete with brightly lit floats and themed dancers!
Spanish Town Mardi Gras
Saturday, Feb. 10
Downtown Baton Rouge
Produced by the Mystic Krewe for the Preservation of Lagniappe in Louisiana, Spanish Town Mardi Gras is Baton Rouge’s largest Mardi Gras parade and is held the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. Spanish Town is a historic district anchored by Spanish Town Road, and the first parade took place in 1981. Its mascot is the pink flamingo, an ode to the neighborhood’s eclectic residents. To celebrate the beginning of the Mardi Gras season, it isn’t uncommon to see two dozen large pink flamingos in the LSU Lakes, with many residents making it a tradition to “adopt” these flamingos, with a sense of pride associated in having acquired one of these special flamingos. So, don your pink and head downtown! The Spanish Town parade is truly a sight to see, and a Mardi Gras must for Baton Rouge. Continue the Mardi Gras fun on Tuesday by driving through the neighborhood to see all the decorated homes!
Click here to view the parade route.
NEW TO THE KREWE: KREWE OF SHENANDOAH
Monday, Feb. 12
Tiger Bend and Jones Creek Road
Baton Rouge is welcoming a new krewe to the parade scene this year! Krewe of Shenandoah’s inaugural parade will be held on Lundi Gras – Monday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. 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.
Click here to view the parade route.
MORE MARDI GRAS WEEKEND FESTIVITIES IN BATON ROUGE & BEYOND:
Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Festival - North Boulevard Town Square
Saturday, Feb. 10
Krewe of Good Friends of the Oaks - Port Allen
Sunday, Feb. 11
Livonia Carnival Association Mardi Gras Parade - Livonia
Sunday, Feb. 11
Krewe of Comogo - Plaquemine
Monday, Feb. 12
Community Center of Pointe Coupee Mardi Gras Parade - New Roads
Tuesday, Feb. 13
New Roads Lions Club Mardi Gras Parade - New Roads
Tuesday, Feb. 13
