Crowley gearing up for the 14th annual Carnival d'Acadie

Carnival d’Acadie, now in its 14th year, will once again feature live music, food and drink and plenty of Mardi Gras fun and excitement.

Set for March 3 and 4 on the grounds of the Crowley Enterprise Building (North Parkerson Avenue at the railroad tracks), the event will kick off with Lundi Gras activities on Monday.

Mayor Greg Jones will officially open the celebration during a welcome address at 6:15 p.m. and the popular local band Beer 30 will perform immediately thereafter.

At 9 p.m. Grammy Award winner Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band will take the stage until the festival closes at 11 p.m.

Mardi Gras activities on Tuesday will kick off at 11 a.m. with the annual Costume Contest. Awards in that contest and in the Door Decorating Contest will be announced at 12:30 p.m. from the main stage.

Beginning at 1 p.m. Travis Matte and the Kingpins will entertain until the Grand Parade rolls at 3 p.m.

The parade will begin at the railroad track, go north around the courthouse and return to the Enterprise Building grounds — and if the past years are any indication, there will be plenty of revelry and “throws” to go around.

J. Paul and the Zydeco Nubreeds will provide musical entertainment from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.

In addition to the musical entertainment and food and drink booths, there will be carnival rides for the children.

The carnival will open on the Sunday preceding all the Carnival d’Acadie activities from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.

The rides will be open on Monday from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. and on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Armbands will be available and honored until after the parade, when rides are “tickets only.”

All food items and refreshments will be sold by local and commercial vendors. No ice chests (or pets) will be allowed on the grounds.

Souvenir posters also are available and can be purchased in advance at City Hall. The colorful 18-by-24 inch posters are $10 unsigned and $20 for copies signed by the artist, Crowley High School art student Shantel Navarre.

For more information on participating in Carnival d’Acadie, call Crowley City Hall at 783-0284, or visit www.crowley-la.com.