Mardi Gras time is here, local events planned
The official start of the 2016 Mardi Gras season began this week on the Twelfth Night of Christmas, Jan. 6, and will last until Mardi Gras Day or “Fat Tuesday” on Feb. 9, the day before Ash Wednesday.
During that time, a number of Mardi Gras events, programs, parades and balls will be held and enjoyed by all.
Rayne events include:
• The 5th Annual Rayne Grande Court Mardi Gras Ball, sponsored by the Rayne Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture will be held on Saturday, January 16, in the Rayne Civic Center. Tickets are $60 per person and will not be sold at the door. The ballroom will be transformed into the gala theme “Vegas Nights”. Doors will open at 6 pm, and presentations will begin at 7 pm.
• The Krewe de Joie de Vie 2016 Ball will be held Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Rayne Civic Center. Get your tickets now. Food orders, drink orders and member guest tickets ($50 per person) are all due this week. After this week, all ticket sales will be $60 per person. Everyone’s encouraged to join in on the fun and excitement as the Krewe celebrates the “Holiday Hoopla.”
• On Saturday, Feb. 6, the Rayne Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture Tourism Committee and the City of Rayne administration are co-sponsoring a fun, safe and “family friendly” 2016 Rayne Mardi Gras Parade. At the Depot Square, plans are to have the committee sell food and drinks and have music by a DJ until 7 p.m. No ice chests will be allowed. Registration and entry forms are available at Rayne City Hall, and Chamber website and office.
Other parish events include:
• The 2016 Krewe of Town Revelers’ Carnival Ball will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Rice Festival Building in Crowley. The theme of the ball is “Cimmersonian Masquerade at the Museum.” Tickets go on sale this week.
• Carnival D’Acadie (Mardi Gras) will be held Feb.7-9 in downtown Crowley. Will include a fair, live music, street dance, costume contests and grand parade at 3 p.m. Mardi Gras day.
• The annual Duson Mardi Gras Parade will begin at 12 noon on Sunday, Feb. 7.
• The 29th Annual Tee Mamou-Iota Mardi Gras Folklife Festival will be held in downtown Iota on Mardi Gras day between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Fun for the entire family will be included.
• On Feb. 6 the 55th Annual Cajun Courir de Mardi Gras Run will begin and end Feb.7 at the Saddle Tramp Club House, 1036 E. Ebey St., Church Point. Downtown area will also include a number of parades Throughout the weekend through Mardi Gras Day.
• Courir de Mardi Gras de L’Anse, the 1st Annual Revival, will be held Saturday, Jan. 30, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at 1174 Lafosse Road in Morse. This is a new Mardi Gras run for the Mermentau Cove area, with the hope that everyone is given an traditional option from the area and anywhere that might be interested in our beloved Cajun heritage.
Additional area events and parades include:
Saturday, January 30:
• Lake Arthur Mardi Gras Parade. Lake Arthur.
• Krewe des Chiens Parade for Dogs. Downtown, Lafayette. 2 p.m.
• Krewe of Carnivale en Rio Mardi Gras Parade. Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette. 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 31:
• Scott Mardi Gras Parade. City of Scott. 1 p.m.
• Courir de Mardi Gras - Old-Fashion Mardi Gras Run. Vermilionville, 300 Fisher Rd., Lafayette.
Friday, February 5:
• “Kick Off” Parade. Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette. 6 p.m.
• Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette begins lasts until Feb. 9. Cajun Field, Lafayette. Carnival rides & games, live music, food vendors, parades roll through festival grounds.
• Cajun Country Mardi Gras last until Feb.9 in Downtown Eunice - 2nd Street area.
Saturday, February 6:
• Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras Parade. Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette. 6:30 p.m.
• Children’s Parade. Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette. 12:30 p.m.
• Mardi Gras Street Dance. Downtown, Eunice.
• Jennings Mardi Gras Festival & Parade. Founder’s Park, Main St., Jennings.
Sunday, February 7:
• Eunice “Little Mardi Gras” (ages 0-16). Northwest Community Center, Eunice.
• Old Time Boucherie. Eunice City Hall.
Monday, February 8:
• Queen Evangeline’s Parade. Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette. 6 p.m.
February 9 (Fat Tuesday):
• Mardi Gras Show at Clark Field. Clark Field Stadium, Lafayette.
• King Gabriel’s Parade. Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette. 10 a.m.
• Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade. Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette. 1 p.m.
• Southwest Mardi Gras Association Pageant & Ball. Heymann Performing Arts Center and Frem F. Boustany Convention Center, 1373 S. College Rd., Lafayette.
• Eunice Courir de Mardi Gras. National Guard Armory & Downtown, Eunice.