Louisiana Festivals & Events Happening this Weekend: January 25 through January 28

Mardi Gras MasksPhoto byAXP PhotographyonUnsplash

[Updated]

It is the last weekend of January, and the Mardi Gras parades and activities are ramping up. Here's where you can celebrate the season.

Bayou Mardi Gras Parade - New Iberia - January 26

Main Street

This family-style Mardi Gras celebration takes place on Historic Main Street in New Iberia on the banks of Bayou Teche. The parade begins at 6:30 PM on the corners of Main and Ann Streets. Participating in the parade will be floats, dance teams, marching bands, organizations, and royalty.

**This parade has been rescheduled for Sunday, January 28, at 3:00 PM, due to weather concerns.

Krewe Boheme Parade - New Orleans - January 26

Marigny/French Quarter

The Krewe Boheme lines up on the corner of Decatur and Marigny Streets and rolls at 7:00 PM. It travels west down Decatur, turns right onto Frenchman St., and then left on Royal Street. Continuing approximately eight blocks on Royal, it turns right onto St. Peter, left on North Rampart, right on Bienville, and left on Basin Street. The parade disbands on Canal Street.

Mystic Krewe Of Titans Mardi Gras Parade - Slidell - January 26

905 W. Howze Beach Road

The parade begins in Fritchie Park in Slidell and follows Front Street/Hwy. 11 to Kensington Blvd. This family-oriented, nighttime parade features 16 floats, over 300 riders, and marching bands from Louisiana and Mississippi.

The Gumbo Cookoff - Opelousas - January 27

1939 W. Landry Street

The Yambillee Ag Arena is the setting for the 18th annual Battle for the Paddle gumbo cookoff in Opelousas. Doors open at 10:00 AM with food, drinks, music, auctions, a raffle, a Kid's Korner, and of course, gumbo samples.

Bayou King Cake Festival - Thibodaux - January 27

402 West 3rd Street

The inaugural Bayou King Cake Festival happens in Downtown Thibodaux on Saturday, January 27, beginning at 11:00 AM. There will be a variety of locally baked king cakes for guests to sample and vote on, and a Krewe of King Cake children's parade.

A $10 ticket buys five tastings and one opportunity to vote for your favorite. Additional tastings cost $1. Music will be provided by Nonc Nu & the Wild Matous.

Krewe of Gus Young Parade - Baton Rouge - January 27

The Krewe of Gus Young parade begins at 1:00 PM at the corner of Winbourne Avenue and Acadian Thruway in North Baton Rouge. It travels down Acadian to Gus Young Avenue and ends at North Foster Drive.

Krewe du Vieux Parade - New Orleans - January 27

Marigny/French Quarter

Beginning at 6:30 PM, the Krewe du Vieux parade starts on the corner of Royal Street and Homer Plessy Way. It makes its way through the French Quarter via Decatur, St. Phillip, Royal, and Toulouse Streets. The parade follows N. Peters to Tchoupitoulas St. until Andrew Higgins. It ends in front of the Sugar Mill.

Watson's Annual Bird & Gumbo Cookoff - Watson - January 27

Livingston Parish Fairgrounds

Gates open at 10:00 AM for the 13th annual gumbo cookoff. There will be up to 75 different gumbos to sample, along with additional food, beer, and live music. Donation is $15 per person, with children under 3 feet tall admitted free.

Musical guests include Chris Leblanc Band and Ampersand.

Twin Cities Krewe de Riviere Mardi Gras Parade - Monroe - January 27

West Monroe/Downtown Monroe

The Twin Cities parade will begin at 5:00 PM on Travis Street in West Monroe, and travel down Hwy. 143 to Mill Street, where it will take a right and then cross the Ouachita River into Monroe. It turns right on N 5th Street, right on Pine Street, and then left on Walnut Street. It ends at I-20.

This year's theme: "Neon Revolution"

Carencro Mardi Gras Parade - Carencro - January 27

Hwy. 182

The Carencro Mardi Gras parade starts at 10:00 AM at Carencro High School, travels down Highway 182, and ends at the Carencro Community Center. The road closes at 9:00 AM to wait for the parade, so get to your viewing site before then.

Krewe of Aquarius Mardi Gras Parade - Logansport - January 27

Hwy. 5

The Krewe of Aquarius will convene at Logansport High School at 5:00 PM and parade down Highway 5 beginning at 6:00 PM. The parade ends at Dennis Freeman Park.

Pearl River Lions Club Mardi Gras Parade - Pearl River - January 28

39110 Rebel Lane

Beginning at Pearl River High School at 1:00 PM, the Lions Club Mardi Gras parade will travel south on Hwy 41, turn left at the light on Hwy 11, and end at Pearl River Town Hall, 39460 Willis Alley. There will be floats, the Pearl River High School band, cheerleaders, clubs, church groups, and civic groups.

This year's theme: "Rockin' Through the Decades"

Krewe of Antheia Mardi Gras Parade - Slidell - January 28

905 W. Howze Beach Road

Following the traditional Slidell parade route from Fritchie Park to Kensington Boulevard, the inaugural parade led by an all-woman group will begin at 1:00 PM.

CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts Parade - Baton Rouge - January 28

222 North Boulevard

The 25th annual Mystic Krewe of Mutts dog parade will roll through Downtown Baton Rouge beginning at 2:00 PM. The day includes a Bark in the Park with local vendors, a BRPD canine demonstration, and a Dog Costume Contest.

This year's theme: "Pawty Like it's 1999"

Krewe of Poseidon Parade - Slidell - January 28

The Krewe of Poseidon parade starts at 6:00 PM at the corner of Berkley Street and Spartan Drive and follows Spartan northwest to Hwy 11. It turns onto Hwy 11 and travels all the way to Gause Blvd. It proceeds through town on Gause and ends just past the intersection with Kensington Blvd.

This year's theme: "A Child's Imagination"

'tit Rex Parade - New Orleans - January 28

1200 St. Roch

'tit Rex is New Orleans' first and only micro-krewe whose floats are made out of shoe boxes. Beginning at 4:30 PM in the Marigny, the parade will start at the St. Roch Tavern, travel down to St. Roch to St. Claude, take a left onto Music Street which joins Franklin Avenue, and turn right onto Royal. The Parade takes a right onto Mandeville, a left on Burgundy, a right on Marigny, and a final left onto St. Claude. It stops at the Allways Lounge.

Krewe of Nefertiti Parade - New Orleans East - January 28

The Krewe of Nefertiti parade begins at 1:00 PM at the intersection of Bullard Avenue and Lake Forest Blvd. in New Orleans East. The all-female Krewe parade proceeds west along Lake Forest to Read Blvd., making a left (south). It follows Read Blvd. to Chef Mentaur Hwy and then loops back up to Read. The parade ends just past Dwyer Road.

*If I missed a parade or event that you know of, please mention it in the comments section. I will do my best to include it in an update of this article.