Louisiana Travel Guide - 2026
The Mardi Gras You Don’t Know
2026-02-18 09:57:23
Bourbon Street & BEYOND
CHICKENS, MASKS, MUSIC: EXPLORE LESSER-KNOWN MARDI GRAS TRADITIONS
New Orleans does Mardi Gras big with its epic parades and fun superkrewes ... like the king of all krewes (Rex) or the all-women Krewe of Muses. But all across Louisiana, Carnival season brings its own local flair.
Head to Eunice, Mamou or Church Point for Courir de Mardi Gras, a rural tradition where masked horseback riders chase chickens to go in the community gumbo pot. It’s a wild, joyful nod to Cajun heritage.
Lake Charles hosts Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras, featuring many family-friendly celebrations and a boat parade. In Baton Rouge, Krewe of Southdowns lights up the night with a family-friendly parade and playful themes that change each year.
Mandeville’s Krewe Du Pooch invites costumed pups and their humans to strut lakeside, proving that even four-legged friends get in on the fun. In Alexandria, Krewes Parade offers more than 20 floats and festive royalty.
In North Louisiana, Shreveport’s Krewe of Centaur is among the largest single parading krewes in the state, while Krewe of Highland is famous for quirky throws like hot dogs and Beanie Babies. Monroe’s Krewe of Janus draws more than 200,000 attendees with dozens of floats rolling through downtown.
And even in New Orleans you can discover some of the lesser-known “secret” krewes locals love. Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus caters to sci-fi fans, while the Society of St. Anne welcomes all to enjoy over-the-top parade creativity and fashion!
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