From Newcomer To Insider: A Non-Native’s Guide To Lafayette’s Mardi Gras
It feels like yesterday when I arrived in Lafayette as a wide-eyed newcomer, utterly clueless about what lay ahead. If someone had told me a decade ago, when I was living in Canada, that I’d end up in Lafayette, Louisiana – of all places – I’d likely have laughed and wondered, ‘Lafayette? Where’s that?'” But here I am, deeply enamored with this vibrant city! One of the many reasons I’ve grown to love Louisiana, especially Lafayette, is for its festivals, crawfish season, fresh shrimp and Mardi Gras season. The “LOVE” list is long!
This post isn’t about diving into the history of Mardi Gras (for that, seek out a local expert!), but it’s about sharing the survival tactics I’ve picked up along the way – from navigating my very first Mardi Gras Parade to now celebrating my 10th year here. Yep, I’m a seasoned veteran now! LOL
- Mardi Gras Day is always on a Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) but it varies every single year. Sometimes Mardi Gras falls in January, sometimes in February. But always 47 days before Easter. This year it’s February 13th and celebrations will start a few weeks before.
- Check the Acadiana Mardi Gras Parade schedule here. Thankfully there are a lot of opportunities to catch the parades. There are a few that I love and will always have my heart. I will break down these parades below.
- There are so many opportunities to celebrate beyond the parades. It can be overwhelming but here and here are lists of things you could look at doing that aren’t parades.
- Look at the parade routes. LOOK at the parade routes! Look at the routes before you decide to go anywhere at any time during Mardi Gras. You might have to find alternative streets to get home.
- Bring snacks and drinks with you!
- A wagon for small kiddos is my favorite way to store all the things you need (for example: chairs, blankets, coolers, ponchos) Plus when the parades are done, you can put all the throws (beads and things) in the wagon too instead of having to carry it back to your car.
- Download the KATC Float Finder: Although I think this is only for Lafayette parades, it’s super helpful in knowing where the floats are and track when they will get to you on the parade route.
- Plan ahead for parking: I repeat, DO NOT PARK in the Rouses parking lot on Bertrand in Lafayette! You will be towed and it will be $300 or more dollars to get your car back. This is the same for a lot of places, just make sure you look for the tow away signs.
- Barricades are there for a reason! Do not step outside of the barricades, even just for a second to get a throw. Most of the time if someone in the parade is walking by, they will pick it up and throw it in the crowd. There have been way too many incidents and even death of parade goers because they get run over by the floats.
- Speaking of safety, BEADS HURT! I’ve learned that you have to pay close attention when the parade gets started and you’re trying to catch beads while simultaneously shielding your kiddos from being impaled by beads. It’s kind of an art.
- If you don’t want to keep all your beads, there are a few things you can do immediately after the last float and the days coming. There will almost always be a flatbed truck and or firetruck you can throw your beads onto. After the parade, there are a few places you can donate beads back:
LARC and ARC of Acadiana are dedicated organizations committed to fostering job creation and providing opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities through ventures like Mardi Gras Beads-n-More.
12. Acadiana is NOT New Orleans, keep your ta-tas in your bra bra. Jefferson Street is NOT Bourbon Street and you will (hopefully) not get the same experience as you would in New Orleans. There are places that get “Turnt Up” – I’m looking at you Scott, Youngsville and Opelousas. For the most part, all of Acadiana’s parades are going to be family-friendly. If I were you, I’d ask the locals where the best family-friendly place to stand is at any given parade. For Lafayette, my favorite place to set up camp for the parades is downtown near Sunday’s Soda Fountain. It’s very crowded on Jefferson but I just love being downtown, it’s a personal preference.
13. Signs are always a nice touch and WILL most likely get you noticed by parade walkers and float riders. It’s either my birthday or my son’s birthday during Mardi Gras so we always make fun signs.
If you have any tips and tricks you want to add to this list please let me know! I’m sure I can think of a million other things!
But for now, I will just hope that you have a wonderful time!
