Contrary to popular belief, Mardi Gras can be family-friendly. The festival seems like it was made for children, with floats derived from the depths of the most ingenious imaginations, costumes and masks that express an unending creativity, bold colors and joyous music abounds through parades. And, most importantly, the beads, doubloons and other treats thrown to the crowds from the floats are a child’s delight.
Mardi Gras 2016 is Tuesday, February 9
Baton Rouge Moms has put together a comprehensive Family Friendly Mardi Gras Guide with Mardi Gras parades, a printable PDF and tips for parade goers.
Madri Gras Fun Fact: Rex selected the official Mardi Gras colors in 1872 to honor the visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovich Romanoff, whose house colors were purple, green and gold.
Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Parades 2016:
Krewe of Artemis
Friday, January 29 at 7pm – The Krewe of Artemis 14th Annual Mardi Gras Parade will roll through the streets of downtown Baton Rouge on Friday, January 29, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. Join the excited revelers as they line the parade route while joining in the festivities and experiencing Baton Rouge Mardi Gras….Artemis style!!Revelers will be treated with themed throws, including the Krewe of Artemis’ signature High Heeled Shoe, along with footballs, tambourines, stuffed animals, float beads and lighted throws. Parade begins and ends at the corner of Government Street and St. Philip Street.
Krewe of Mystique de la CAPITALE
Saturday, January 30 at 2pm – The Krewe of Mystique de la Capitale welcomes you to the 2016 Mardi Gras Parade as they celebrate 38 years of parading in Louisiana’s capital city. We are the city’s oldest parading Mardi Gras Krewe and we’ve shared 38 wonderful years of carnival fun in Baton Rouge. The parade is family oriented and promises fun for all ages. The parade consists of marching bands, 12 to 14 floats that represent the Krewe along with many local businesses, and charitable organizations.
Krewe of Orion
Saturday, January 30 at 6:30pm – The Krewe of Orion’s 17th annual Mardi Gras parade will roll through downtown Baton Rouge on January 30, 2016! This family-oriented parade begins and ends at the corner of Government Street and St. Philip Street. Parade goers will be treated to a lineup of exciting, colorful traditional lighted and tractor-pulled floats. Rollin’ with the theme of “Jet Set” with Orion! Masked and costumed riders will throw plenty of Orion parade theme medallions, footballs, cups, plush animals, swords, doubloons, lighted throws, and beads. Marching bands, as well as riding and marching units will be among the great sights and sounds at this wonderful parade.
CAAWS MYSTIC KREWE OF MUTTS
Sunday, January 31, 2:00pm – The CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts is a family-oriented, fun-filled, parade and promises all a very special day. Mardi Gras colored costumes and pet-sized floats will roll along North Boulevard on Sunday, January 31st. The CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts Paw Wars – The Furs Unleashed January 31, 2016 Downtown Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Parade 2:00 Bark in the Park 10-4. Parade begins at North Boulevard and St. Ferdinand Street, turning North at 8th Street and ending at North Boulevard and Fourth Street.
FOR SAFETY PURPOSES, NO RETRACTABLE LEASHES ARE ALLOWED, NOR ANY LEASHES LONGER THAN 6′. Your dog should have a proof of current rabies vaccination tag. No puppies under 12 weeks, aggressive dogs, or dogs in heat are allowed.
Krewe of Southdowns
Friday, February 5th at 7pm – This parade is Baton Rouge’s family-friendly evening parade that rolls through the Southdowns Neighborhood from Glasgow Middle School. The theme for the Southdowns 2016 parade will be “Under The Big Top”.
Krewe of Good Friends of the Oaks
Sunday, February 7th at 2pm – The theme for the 2016 parade will be CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF PORT ALLEN (history, local festivals, music, landmarks, celebrities, etc) The 32nd Krewe of Good Friends of the Oaks Mardi Gras parade will begin and end at the corner of the LA-1 Service Road and Oaks Avenue. The parade route is as follows: east on Oaks Avenue to Jefferson Avenue, north on Jefferson Avenue to Court Street, west on Court Street to Sixth Street, north on Sixth Street to Louisiana Avenue, east on Louisiana Avenue to Jefferson Avenue, south on Jefferson Avenue to Oaks Avenue, west on Oaks Avenue to LA-1 Service Road.
ADDIS MARDI GRAS PARADE
1:00 pm (NEW TIME)
MORE INFO TO COME
Theme of Parade: ADDIS GOES TO HOLLYWOOD
Krewe Denham Springs
Saturday, January 30, 2016
3-5 p.m please contact Roni Juneau at [email protected] or [email protected] for any information.
Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Festival 2016
Saturday, February 6th, from 10:00am to 6:00pm – The Ultimate Louisiana Mardi Gras Party 2016 will take place Saturday, February 6th, from 10:00am to 6:00pm at North Boulevard Town Square, located at 247 Florida Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801. The event will showcase live bands and Krewes, with a Vendor Village, art exhibits, food and more. The event is free and open to the public. ‘Taste of Louisiana’ meal tickets and VIP tickets available at an additional cost.
Family Gras 2015 in Metairie
JANUARY 29, 30 & 31 – This celebration of carnival and family takes place on the neutral ground of Veterans Memorial Boulevard across from Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie, Louisiana.
Entertainment for 2015 Family Gras includes Cowboy Mouth, Amanda Shaw, former Journey member Steve Augeri, former members of the Electric Light Orchestra, Courtney Cole, Blood Sweat & Tears, Wilson Phillips and Montgomery Gentry. Local and regional artists set up in the Art Market, where you can buy their work throughout the whole festival. Flambeau Food Court vendors will be there cooking up Louisiana favorites, like jambalaya, crawfish pasta, muffulettas, pizza and gator-on-a-stick. There will also be local goodies like bread pudding and king cake.
NOLA Mardi Gras
If you are new to Baton Rouge and or Louisiana, the only place you should avoid with kids is the French Quarter. It’s best to see the parades when they begin on St. Charles Avenue near Napoleon, since parades can go on well into the night by the end of the parade route. The Garden District are of St. Charles is also family area where you will see many families enjoying the day and planting themselves to see the parades.
The Sunday before Mardi Gras is particularly family oriented, with Thoth parading down Magazine Street and Bacchus rolling later in the afternoon.
The Krewe of Barkus is a delightful dog parade that rolls the Sunday prior to Thoth. It begins in Congo Square and parades through the French Quarter and is remarkable fun for children of any age.
On Fat Tuesday, visitors are encouraged to join the local tradition of masking. Zulu, an African American parade, leads the long day of parades on Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras itself. Children scramble for the much desired coconuts handed down by float riders.
Mardi Gras 2016 New Orleans Parade Schedule
Mardi Gras 2016 Northshore Parade Schedule
2016 Acadiana Mardi Gras Schedule
You should add the Denham Springs, Addis and other such parades
Please add our Mardi Gras parade in Plaquemine LA it is January 31 at 7pm.
Thank you!
Why no mention of Spanish Town? Really?