Guide to 2025 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, Feb. 15
Scotlandville Parkway

Kick off Mardi Gras season with the Krewe of Oshun Parade & Festival on Saturday, Feb. 15!. 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.

CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts

Sunday, Feb. 16
Downtown Baton Rouge

Who let the dogs! The Mystic Krewe of Mutts parade takes over Downtown Baton Rouge the next day on Sunday, Feb. 16, 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?

KREWE OF ARTEMIS

Friday, Feb. 21
Downtown Baton Rouge

Mark your calendars for Friday, Feb. 21, 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, Feb. 22
Downtown Baton Rouge

On Saturday, Feb. 22, 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 — 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 Mystique

KREWE OF ORION

Saturday, Feb. 22
Downtown Baton Rouge

Get ready for a memorable night when the Krewe of Orion takes over the streets of Downtown Baton Rouge on Saturday, Feb. 22, 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, Feb. 23
North Boulevard

Get ready for Baton Rouge’s nuttiest celebration! The Mid City Gras Parade will make its way down North Boulevard on Sunday, Feb. 4, 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.

Mid City Gras

KREWE OF SOUTHDOWNS

Friday, Feb. 28
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, Feb. 28. 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!

Krewe of Southdowns

Spanish Town Mardi Gras

Saturday, March 1
Downtown Baton Rouge

Get ready for Baton Rouge’s largest Mardi Gras parade, Spanish Town Mardi Gras! 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 — the pink flamingo — Spanish Town celebrates its eclectic spirit. 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.

KREWE OF SHENANDOAH

Monday, March 3
Tiger Bend and Jones Creek Road

The Krewe of Shenandoah will be held on Lundi Gras – March 3, 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.