Mardi Gras in Lafayette
February 14-24, 2009

Mardi Gras Mystery & Magic
Just as the Cajuns and Creoles are known for their fabulous, spicy food, Cajun Country is known for the fabulous spice it adds to the Mardi Gras celebration. There you'll find the mystery of Mardi Gras blended with Cajun magic to cook up one of the most colorful and unique pre-Lenten celebrations in the world.

In Lafayette, you can celebrate Mardi Gras with parades and special events. Le Festival de Mardi Gras à Lafayette, held Mardi Gras weekend, features rides and games on the carnival midway, live bands on the sound stage, and a prime spot for parade viewing. The parades also roll through downtown Lafayette, where you can participate in a costume contest and dance in the streets to live Cajun and Zydeco music Mardi Gras day. While most balls are private affairs, Lafayette?s Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association Pageant and Ball opens its pomp and splendor to the public free of charge Mardi Gras night.

The Courir de Mardi Gras (Mardi Gras run) is Cajun Country's traditional rural celebration dating back to the earliest days of settlement. With its roots firmly in the medieval tradition of ceremonial begging, bands of masked and costumed horseback riders roam the countryside "begging" for ingredients for their communal gumbo. "Le Capitaine," a caped but unmasked captain, leads the riders from house to house where they dance and sing for donations such as chicken, sausage, rice and onions to be used in the gumbo. The day's festivities end with a fais-do-do (dance) and lots of gumbo for Mardi Gras revelers.

Lafayette Parade Map:

Click Here for a printable PDF version of the map. Adobe Acrobat Reader required.

Tips for watching Mardi Gras parades from The Daily Advertiser:

• Go early to pick your spot along the route.
  Bring plenty of water.
• Never run in front of a float to catch throws.
  Don't attempt to cross the street while a parade is in progress.
• Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.
• Be careful where you park - some streets are off-limits during parade season.
• Know where the restrooms are located.
  Make friends with people along the parade route who might open a bathroom to you.
• Have fun, but realize that lewd behavior or drunkenness can get you arrested.
• Don't throw things at the float riders.
• Don't hang on with a vengeance if you jointly catch a string of beads with the person standing next to you. First, you'll probably break the beads. Second, it's nice to be nice.

Safety tips for families from The Daily Advertiser:

• Keep an eye on children. Don't let them wander off in search of beads.
• Sew or pin your child's name, the name and telephone number of someone who is at home, and your cell phone number inside the child's clothing in case he or she gets separated from you.
• Stay behind barricades along the parade route and don't tilt children over them to retrieve beads.
• Don't drink and drive.
• Remember the celebration is a fun, family affair. Don't take the struggle for beads too seriously.
• Some items are prohibited along the parade route:
  • Weapons
  • Fireworks
  • Bicycles
  • Glass containers
  • Pets