Mardi Gras

• Friday, February 6: 7:00 p.m. - Krewe Des Canailles Parade
• Saturday, February 7: 6:30 p.m. - Krewe of Rio Parade
• Friday, February 13: 6:30 p.m. - Krewe of Allons Kick-Off Parade
• Saturday, February 14:
  • 12:30 p.m. - Children's Parade (Note: This parade begins at Lafayette St. and West Vermilion St. and ends at Cajun Field)
  • 6:30 p.m. - Krewe of Bonaparte Parade (Streets reopen briefly between parades)
• Monday, February 16: 6:00 p.m. - Monday Night Parade Honoring Queen Evangeline LXXXVII
• Tuesday, February 17 (Mardi Gras Day):
  • 10:00 a.m. - King Gabriel’s Parade
  • 1:00 p.m. - Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade
  • 2:00 p.m. - Independent Parade

All parades, except Krewe Des Canailles and the Children’s Parade, begin at Pontiac Point (Jefferson St. at Surrey St.) and end at Cajun Field.

Click here for the official 2026 route map.

A list of all Mardi Gras festivities in Lafayette Parish can be found at lafayettetravel.com/mardigras

Streets located along the parade route will be closed one hour before each parade begins.

You may park where street parking is permittable, at Cajun Field, the Buchanan Street Parking Garage, the Vermilion Street Parking Garage, or any public parking lots. Please note the Vermilion garage will temporarily close to the public during parade roll-throughs, as it is located along the parade route. Gates are expected to close approximately 45 minutes before parade start and will reopen once the parade has safely passed.

NOTE:

• No parking will be allowed on the streets or sidewalks along the parade route
• All normal parking regulations apply during Mardi Gras parades
• When parking along side streets, don't block roadways or driveways
• Park to the side of the road, always leaving room for emergency vehicles to pass
• Observe all special event parking signs along the parade route

The 2026 parade route map.

• No products that are manufactured for the purpose of being thrown against a hard surface or stepped on to make a popping noise such as snaps, pops, or cracker balls.
• No open flames, heating, or cooking devices on public rights-of-way
• No silly string
• No animals
• No skates, rollerblading, or skateboarding
• No whips
• No glass containers
• No flashing (exposing oneself) and no clothing or items depicting nudity and/or profanity
• No throwing items back at float riders
• No entering the barricaded areas during the parades, this is strictly enforced

• Where to get a vendor permit: To become a vendor, you must get a peddler permit through Lafayette Consolidated Government. Unless otherwise exempt as a non-profit organization, any participant requires this license. In addition, if on private property, you must obtain written permission from the property owner before applying for permits to operate. Licenses are issued in the Permitting Division at 220 W. Willow St., Building B. between the hours of 7:00am and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday.
• For alcoholic beverages, apply completed application for this permit at the Alcohol & Noise Control Department located at 220 W. Willow St., Building B and phone 337-291-7116.
• Why do I need a vendor permit? For public safety and liability, permits allow LCG to monitor the types of goods peddled to ensure no weapons, illegal substances or prohibited items or submit are sold. Additionally, to ensure booths that have flammable materials, such as propane and generators have fire extinguishers, etc.
• Location of Booth: All booths shall be located as not to obstruct fire hydrants, fire lanes, fire protection equipment, fire escapes, fire exits, fire approach areas, or in a hazardous location.
• Construction of booth: All booths shall be constructed in accordance with the chief of the fire prevention bureau's approval. If streamers or other items are used, they shall be of fire-resistant base. Areas that house tents will meet code requirements for tent operations. (Examples of booth assembly: a tent selling hamburgers, selling balloons out of a van, face painting)
• Booth Fire Protection Equipment: Proper fire protection equipment shall be provided for all booths where flammable liquids, electricity and gas drive engines are used. All rides shall be required to have one 10-pound dry chemical extinguisher if gasoline operated, and one per every two rides if electrically operated. All booths with butane, propane, gasoline cooking devices, or electrical cooking devices, shall be required to have one 10-pound dry chemical extinguisher.
• Booth Electrical Equipment: All electrical equipment shall be secured from the general public and if used where the public is in sight, shall have proper cords with equipment grounded and fuse boxes properly secured.

ALL BOOTHS WILL BE INSPECTED

• Booths opened Friday will be inspected 1-hour before parades are scheduled to begin.
• Booths opened Saturday will be inspected Saturday morning prior to 12:30pm
• Booths opened Monday will be inspected Monday afternoon prior to 6:00pm
• Booths opened Tuesday, Mardi Gras Day, will be inspected beginning at 8:00am

The ADA-accessible area is located at Fire Station No. 5 (2001 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA).

Barricades will be placed along the parade route starting Thursday, February 5, 2026, and will remain until after the parade on Saturday, February 7, 2026. They will be repositioned on Thursday, February 12, 2026, and remain in place until the final parade on Mardi Gras Day, Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Streets along and around the parade route will be closed one hour before each parade begins. Citizens should avoid these areas to minimize traffic congestion.

Beads can be dropped in one of the bead recycling bins placed around Lafayette after Mardi Gras. Visit www.cleanupkrewe.com for information and bin locations.