The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association is pleased to announce that Mardi Gras is back in full swing here in Lafayette!! Greater Southwest is making final plans to roll with its full complement of parades including the Friday Night Kick-Off Parade Honoring Lafayette’s Bicentennial and our Festivals!
Frank Gerami III, President of Greater Southwest, announces that the Friday Night Kick-Off Parade honoring Lafayette’s Bicentennial and our Festivals will roll at 6.30 pm on Friday, February 17, 2023, and will kick-off the Mardi Gras weekend. The parade will follow Lafayette’s traditional parade route starting at Pontiac Point (corner of Simcoe and Surrey Streets) and ending at Cajun Field. Robert Kallam, organizer and chairperson of the Friday Night Kick-Off Parade, reports that Greater Southwest is pleased to present this parade along with the generous support of the following sponsors: Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, Lafayette’s Bicentennial Committee, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, One Acadiana, The Haynie Family Foundation and Beads Galore/Bead Busters (Craig Spadoni). Kallam confirmed that the parade will feature 9 marching bands, law enforcement and fire vehicles/units and at least 18 floats with nearly 400 riders throwing Mardi Gras beads, throws and other items from the following participant organizations: Lafayette Consolidated Government, Town of Scott, Town of Duson, City of Broussard, City of Youngsville, City of Carencro, Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, the Louisiana Office of Tourism/Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, OneAcadiana, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, Louisiana State Fire Marshal, Rayne Frog Festival, Amite Oyster Festival, Scott Boudin Festival, Realtor Association of Acadiana, LAGCOE, Festival International de Louisiane, Festival Acadiens et Creoles, Acadian Ambulance and Beads Galore/Bead Busters. Gerami and Kallam urge the community to line the parade route with posters, banners and/or other signage honoring Lafayette’s Bicentennial and our Festivals.
Gerami once again announced The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association Mardi Gras parade line up is as follows:
Friday, February 17, 2023
- Kick-off Parade honoring Lafayette’s Bicentennial and Festivals, 6.30 pm
Saturday, February 18, 2023
- “Children’s” Parade, Lafayette, 12:30 p.m. (featuring Krewe of Camelot, Krewe d’Amusement, Krewe des Jeunes Amis, Krewe of Versailles, Krewe of Troubadours, and Krewe of Oberon)
- Krewe of Bonaparte Parade, Lafayette, 6:30 pm
Monday, February 20, 2023
- Monday Night Parade Honoring Queen Evangeline LXXXIV, Lafayette, 6:00 pm (featuring Krewe of Triton, Krewe of Attakapas, Krewe of Xanadu, Krewe of Victoria, Krewe of Troubadours, Krewe d’Argent, Krewe of Bon Amis, Krewe de Rendezvous, Krewe of Karencro, Krewe of Apollo, and Krewe of Olympus)
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
- King Gabriel’s Parade, Lafayette, 10:00 am
- Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade, Lafayette, 1:00 pm
- Independent Parade, Lafayette, 2:30 pm
- Greater Southwest Pageant and Grand Ball, 8 pm (Heymann Performing Arts Center)
Greater Southwest is excited to announce the return of Le Festival de Mardi Gras á Lafayette at Cajun Field! The Festival will run from Friday, February 17th through February 21, 2023. Le Festival will feature a new carnival with the newest, most exciting rides along with a new, more convenient, and spacious layout. This year’s entertainment will feature Wayne Toups, The Chee-Weez, Krossfyre, Clay Cormier, Lil’ Nate and many more surprise artists!
Finally, Greater Southwest would like to thank the following sponsors and corporate partners for their tremendous support: Service Chevrolet, Butcher Air Conditioning, Party Central/Event Solutions, LLC, LHC Group, Hancock Whitney, J&J Exterminating and Primeaux RV.