Mardi Gras

LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT


Physical Address
705 W. University Avenue
Lafayette, LA 70506

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 4017-C
Lafayette, LA 70502

Mardi Gras is one of Lafayette’s most celebrated traditions, bringing the community together for parades, music, and family-friendly fun. This page is your go-to resource for maps, schedules, safety reminders, and other important details to help you plan your experience.

Mardi Gras Route Map

Mardi Gras Safety Reminders

Mardi Gras Parade Schedule

Sgt. Green Mardi Gras Safety Video

Clean Up Krewe


Frequently Asked Questions

  • Friday, Feb. 21, 7:00 p.m. – Krewe de Canailles Parade – Takes place in Downtown Lafayette.
  • Saturday, Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m. – Krewe of Carnivale en Rio Parade – Scheduled beginning at the intersection of Jefferson and Simcoe Streets, then along the parade route before turning into Cajun Field at Gate 1.
  • Friday, Feb. 28, 6:30 p.m. – “Kick Off” Parade is scheduled to begin at the intersection of Jefferson and Simcoe Streets, then along the parade route before turning into Cajun Field at Gate 1.
  • Saturday, March 1,
    • 12:30 p.m. – Children’s Parade is scheduled to begin at the intersection of Jefferson and Simcoe Streets, then along the parade route before turning into Cajun Field at Gate 1.
    • 6:30 p.m. – Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras Parade is scheduled at the intersection of Jefferson and Simcoe Streets, then along the parade route before turning into Cajun Field at Gate 1.
  • Monday, March 3, 6:00 p.m. – Queen Evangeline’s Parade is scheduled to begin at the intersection of Jefferson and Simcoe Streets, then along the parade route before turning into Cajun Field at Gate 1.
  • Tuesday, March 4, MARDI GRAS DAY,
    • 10:00 a.m. – King Gabriel’s Parade is scheduled to begin at the intersection of Jefferson and Simcoe Streets, then along the parade route before turning into Cajun Field at Gate 1.
    • 1:00 p.m. – The Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade is scheduled to begin following King Gabriel’s Parade.
    • 2:30 p.m. – The Independent Parade is scheduled to begin following the Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade.

Streets located along the parade route will be closed one hour before each parade begins.

You may park where street parking is permittable, at Cajun Field, the Buchanan Street Parking Garage, or any public parking lots.

NOTE:

  • No parking will be allowed on the streets or sidewalks along the parade route
  • All normal parking regulations apply during Mardi Gras parades
  • When parking along side streets, don’t block roadways or driveways
  • Park to the side of the road, always leaving room for emergency vehicles to pass
  • Observe all special event parking signs along the parade route

*No parking will be allowed on the parade route Downtown during the Krewe de Canailles Parade on Friday, February 21. The Parking Division will bag downtown meters beginning at 1:00 p.m. that day in an effort to maintain public safety for all parade attendees.

Click here to view the parade route map.

LTS will operate night service detours due to parades on Feb. 21, Feb. 22, Feb. 28, Mar. 1, and Mar. 3. The following segments of roads will not be serviced those nights, resulting in route detours:

  • Johnston Street (Garfield to Doucet/Vital Roads)
  • Lee Avenue (Garfield to University Avenue)
  • Congress Street (University to Cypress)
  • Jefferson Street (Underpass to Moss)

Transit services will not operate on Mardi Gras Day, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

  • No products that are manufactured for the purpose of being thrown against a hard surface or stepped on to make a popping noise such as snaps, pops, or cracker balls.
  • No open flames, heating, or cooking devices on public rights-of-way
  • No silly string
  • No animals
  • No skates, rollerblading, or skateboarding
  • No whips
  • No glass containers
  • No flashing (exposing oneself) and no clothing or items depicting nudity and/or profanity
  • No throwing items back at float riders
  • No entering the barricaded areas during the parades, this is strictly enforced

  • Where to get a vendor permit: To become a vendor, you must get a peddler permit through Lafayette Consolidated Government. Unless otherwise exempt as a non-profit organization, any participant requires this license. In addition, if on private property, you must obtain written permission from the property owner before applying for permits to operate. Licenses are issued in the Permitting Division at 220 W. Willow St., Building B. between the hours of 7:00am and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday.
  • For alcoholic beverages, apply completed application for this permit at the Alcohol & Noise Control Department located at 220 W. Willow St., Building B and phone 337-291-7116.
  • Why do I need a vendor permit? For public safety and liability, permits allow LCG to monitor the types of goods peddled to ensure no weapons, illegal substances or prohibited items or submit are sold. Additionally, to ensure booths that have flammable materials, such as propane and generators have fire extinguishers, etc.
  • Location of Booth: All booths shall be located as not to obstruct fire hydrants, fire lanes, fire protection equipment, fire escapes, fire exits, fire approach areas, or in a hazardous location.
  • Construction of booth: All booths shall be constructed in accordance with the chief of the fire prevention bureau’s approval. If streamers or other items are used, they shall be of fire-resistant base. Areas that house tents will meet code requirements for tent operations. (Examples of booth assembly: a tent selling hamburgers, selling balloons out of a van, face painting)
  • Booth Fire Protection Equipment: Proper fire protection equipment shall be provided for all booths where flammable liquids, electricity and gas drive engines are used. All rides shall be required to have one 10-pound dry chemical extinguisher if gasoline operated, and one per every two rides if electrically operated. All booths with butane, propane, gasoline cooking devices, or electrical cooking devices, shall be required to have one 10-pound dry chemical extinguisher.
  • Booth Electrical Equipment: All electrical equipment shall be secured from the general public and if used where the public is in sight, shall have proper cords with equipment grounded and fuse boxes properly secured.

ALL BOOTHS WILL BE INSPECTED

  • Booths opened Friday will be inspected 1-hour before parades are scheduled to begin.
  • Booths opened Saturday will be inspected Saturday morning prior to 12:30pm
  • Booths opened Monday will be inspected Monday afternoon prior to 6:00pm
  • Booths opened Tuesday, Mardi Gras Day, will be inspected beginning at 8:00am

The ADA-accessible area is located at Fire Station No. 5 (2001 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA).

As Mardi Gras approaches, Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) reminds businesses, residents and travelers in the City of Lafayette that Public Works will begin placing barricades along the parade route on Thursday, February 20, at 8:00 a.m. Motorists are asked to use alternate routes when possible, allow extra time to get to their destinations, and exercise additional caution and patience while crews are on the roadways.

The City of Lafayette barricade placement and parade schedule is as follows:

Thursday, Feb. 20, 8:00 a.m. – Public Works crews will begin placing barricades at the start of the parade route (Downtown area), starting at the intersection of Jefferson and Simcoe Streets, then along the parade route to the intersection of Johnston and Vermilion Streets.

Friday, Feb. 21, 8:00 a.m. – Public Works crews will resume placing barricades from the intersection of Johnston and Vermilion Streets along the parade route to the intersection of Johnston Street and North College Road, near the Albertson’s shopping center, then along North College Road to Cajun Field at Gate 1 at Reinhardt Drive, headed toward Congress Street. Barricades will be placed to allow for “turning lanes” and major cross-overs along Johnston Street and North College Road.

  • 7:00 p.m. – Krewe de Canailles Parade – Takes place in Downtown Lafayette.

Saturday, Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m. – Krewe of Carnivale en Rio Parade – Scheduled beginning at the intersection of Jefferson and Simcoe Streets, then along the parade route before turning into Cajun Field at Gate 1. Public Works crews will immediately follow the last float, moving barricades to the sides of the roads and cleaning up litter and debris along the entire parade route.

The Lafayette Police Department will close all streets on and around the parade route one hour before the parades begin. All streets will remain closed until the completion of the last parade. No streets will be open until all citizens have been removed from the area and vehicles are able to travel safely.

Public Works will follow a similar barricade placement schedule starting again on February 27 for the parades leading up to and including Mardi Gras day:

Thursday, Feb. 27, 8:00 a.m. – Public Works crews will begin placing barricades from the Downtown area to Johnston Street.

Friday, Feb. 28, 8:00 a.m. – Public Works crews will begin placing barricades from the Johnston Street/North College Road parade route to Cajun Field at Gate 1 entrance at Reinhardt Drive.

  • 6:30 p.m. – “Kick Off” Parade is scheduled to begin at the intersection of Jefferson and Simcoe Streets, then along the parade route before turning into Cajun Field at Gate 1.

Saturday, March 1, 12:30 p.m. – Children’s Parade is scheduled to begin at the intersection of Jefferson and Simcoe Streets, then along the parade route before turning into Cajun Field at Gate 1.

  • 6:30 p.m. – Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras Parade is scheduled at the intersection of Jefferson and Simcoe Streets, then along the parade route before turning into Cajun Field at Gate 1. Public Works crews will immediately follow the last float, cleaning up litter and debris along the entire parade route. Public Works crews will NOT move the barricades to the sides of the roads, and the barricades will remain in place.

Monday, March 3, 6:00 p.m. – Queen Evangeline’s Parade is scheduled to begin at the intersection of Jefferson and Simcoe Streets, then along the parade route before turning into Cajun Field at Gate 1.

Tuesday, March 4, MARDI GRAS DAY – All streets on and around the parade route will be closed one hour before the parades begin and will remain closed until the completion of the last parade. No streets will be open until all citizens have been removed from the area and vehicles are able to travel safely.

  • 10:00 a.m. – King Gabriel’s Parade is scheduled to begin at the intersection of Jefferson and Simcoe Streets, then along the parade route before turning into Cajun Field at Gate 1.
  • 1:00 p.m. – The Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade is scheduled to begin following King Gabriel’s Parade.
  • 2:30 p.m. – The Independent Parade is scheduled to begin following the Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade.
  • 11:00 p.m. until – Public Works crews will move all remaining barricades to the sides of the roads and clean up litter and debris along the entire parade route. Motorists are asked to use alternate routes when possible, allow extra time to get to their destinations and exercise additional caution and patience while cleanup crews and public safety officers are on the roadways.

The City of Lafayette barricade placement and parade schedule for March 5-7 is as follows:

  • Wednesday, March 5 – Public Works crews will not be working on the roadways.
  • Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7, 7:00 a.m. – Public Works crews will remove barricades from the Mardi Gras route and return them to the Public Works yard on Dorset Ave.

Beads can be dropped in one of the bead recycling bins placed around Lafayette after Mardi Gras. Visit www.cleanupkrewe.com for information and bin locations.

Acadiana Waste Services (AWS) will run garbage and recycling collections like normal on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. All weekly operations will remain the same.