Mardi Gras Archives - Baton Rouge Family Fun

Shannon’s Sugah Shack – Mardi Gras Family Pack Giveaway

January 14, 2021 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

Bienvenue to a brand new Baton Rouge petite boulangerie, Shannon’s Sugah Shack! Shannon is a scratch-made, home cook that has been selling baked goods solely to friends family (and their businesses) since 1984. After much encouragement, support, and a little coaxing from family and friends, she finally launched her petite boulangerie!

Specializing in decorative cookies, cupcakes, decadent cookies, cocoa bombs, southern desserts, and cakes, you can trust Shannon with your future baking needs. You can message her with any questions or orders on her Facebook page here.

To kick off her new business and introduce herself to the community, Shannon wanted to partner with us to host a Mardi Gras Family Pack giveaway of her specialty Mardi Gas cookies and cocoa bombs!

Shannon’s Sugah Shack Mardi Gras Family Pack Giveaway

To Enter: Simply fill out the Rafflecopter Widget form below. Remember to comment on Facebook OR Instagram!

Other: Entrants must be 18 years or older at the time of entering the giveaway. Entrants must be local. The winner will be selected at random and notified via the email that was submitted or via social media. Winner must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize, or another winner will be chosen. Giveaway ends January 22nd at 11:59 pm (CST)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out Baton Rouge Family Fun’s 2021 King Cake Guide here!

Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated BRFF via a cash payment, gift, or giveaway. Opinions expressed herein are that of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the sponsor.

Easy Boudin King Cake – Mardi Gras Recipe (Video)

January 11, 2021 by Guest Contributor

I’m Jennifer Oster, local Baton Rouge Mom and business owner. My husband and I love to cook, and we recently started a YouTube channel to share our passion for cooking with the world! Our specialty is Louisiana/Cajun/local food. This Easy Boudin King Cake is always a hit during Mardi Gras season; it’s stuffed with boudin, pepper jack cheese, and topped with pepper jelly, green onions, and bacon. To save time, this recipe uses pre-made dough! It looks impressive, but it’s a super easy recipe.

Traditionally, boudin (pronounced BOO-DAN, not BOO-DEN) is made with ground pork, rice, onion, green peppers, and Cajun spices and seasonings, left to the boudin creator’s own devices.

I hope you enjoy this savory pastry that marries two Bayou State classics.

Easy Boudin King Cake – Mardi Gras Recipe

Easy Boudin King Cake - Mardi Gras Recipe

Ingredients

2 cans crescent roll dough
1 pound boudin, de-cased and cooked until warm
About 4 ounces (half of a block) pepper jack cheese
4-5Green onions
4-5 slices of cooked and crumbled bacon
Pepper jelly

Instructions

Arrange dough on a greased baking pan in the shape of an oval. Fill the ring with cooked boudin and top with slices of cheese. Roll the sides to form the ring and pinch together. Bake at 375 for 12-20 minutes, until golden brown, then, top with pepper jelly, green onions, bacon, and bake another few minutes until pepper jelly is semi-melted. Serve warm. It can be refrigerated and reheated!

Easy Boudin King Cake – Mardi Gras Recipe

This would be a great recipe to make with kids! If you decide to try your hand at it, please be sure to tag us so we can see your masterpiece! Use the Hashtag #BRFamilyFun and tag us on Facebook and Instagram!

Visit the Oster Adventures YouTube channel for more recipes!

Be sure to check out Baton Rouge Family Fun’s 2021 King Cake Guide here!

Gluten Free King Cake Recipe – Baton Rouge Family Fun

January 4, 2021 by Guest Contributor

I pride myself on being a solid scratch baker: Alton Brown practically raised me, for Pete’s sake, not to mention I audited an online Food Science class from Harvard one semester (hair flip). Harvard, people! So when I was tasked with developing a recipe for gluten-free king cake, I wasn’t intimidated. How hard could it be, I know how to bake!

As it would turn out, I do NOT know how to bake without gluten.

Test after test came out dry, crumbly. Disappointing. Just when I had decided I never wanted to see Bob’s Red Mill 1-To-1 baking flour again, I realized: I was going about it all wrong. I was trying to force my favorite king cake recipes to be gluten-free, rather than find a great gluten-free recipe that I could then make my own. Off to the internet I went.

I quickly became overwhelmed by expensive, unfamiliar ingredients. Whey protein isolate? Tapioca starch? Potato flour? If I were looking to get into the gluten-free baking market professionally, investing in these might have made sense. But all I really wanted was to occasionally be able to make a good king cake for my friends.

After some thought, it finally dawned on me: what was simple, comparably inexpensive, and easily accessible? Bread mix! After all, what is king cake, after you strip it of all the flavors, fillings, and toppings? Just mildly sweet, soft, bread.

I used Hodgson Mill gluten-free white bread mix because it was convenient to pick up at my local supermarket, but this recipe is straight-forward enough to work with whatever your favorite may be. For best results, it should be the kind that stays loose, like the consistency of a thick cake batter. I hope you enjoy creating your own homemade gluten-free king cake and would love to hear about the results!

Gluten-Free King Cake

2020-02-23 13:12:58

Write a review

Save Recipe

Cake

3 ½ cups Gluten Free Bread Mix of your choice
½ cup butter, divided (one stick)
2 tablespoons cinnamon
¾ cup white sugar, divided
¼ cup light brown sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ cups milk
1 ½ teaspoons fast rise yeast (included in most mixes, check yours to confirm)
½ teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon orange zest
½ teaspoon lemon zest

Glaze

1 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 teaspoon almond flavoring (optional)

Sugar Topping

1 ½ cups white sugar
Purple, Green, and Yellow food coloring
3 sandwich size plastic storage bags

Cake

1. Prepare a standard size bundt pan by spraying with thoroughly cooking spray and lightly coating with either cornmeal or GF baking flour. Tap out excess.
2. Melt ¼ cup butter (half stick) in a medium sized bowl; add ½ cup white sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla. Stir to combine, set aside.
3. Warm milk in a small bowl to approximately 100*-110*. It will be warm to the touch but not scalding.
4. Add 1 teaspoon of the remaining sugar and all of the yeast to the milk. Stir, set a timer for 5 minutes and set aside.
5. Pour the bread mix into a mixing bowl of a stand mixer* equipped with the paddle attachment. Add remaining sugar and ½ teaspoon of salt and mix on low briefly, just to combine.
6. Melt the remaining ¼ cup butter.
7. When your 5-minute timer goes off, add milk and yeast mixture to bread mix along with melted butter, room temperature eggs, cider vinegar, and orange and lemon zests.
8. Mix on low until mostly combined, stop the mixer and scrape the bowl well with a spatula. Mix again for on medium-high for 3 minutes. The dough will be similar to a very thick cake batter.
9. Spoon approximately 1/3 of the dough into prepared bundt pan. Sprinkle with half of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Top with another 1/3 of the dough, sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar. Finish with the last 1/3 of dough, smoothing the top with a wet spatula. Spray lightly with cooking spray, cover loosely in cling wrap. Allow to rise in a warm spot for 30 minutes.
10. Preheat oven to 375* near the end of rising time.
11. Bake at 375* for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when tested.
12. Turn out onto a cooling rack after 5 minutes, allow to cool completely.

Sugar Topping

While cake is cooling, divide sugar into 3 sandwich bags. Add the purple, green, and yellow food coloring to the bags, then seal and shake. Add more food coloring, a few drops at a time, until desired color intensity is reached.

Glaze

Combine powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup, and almond flavoring (if desired). Stir until smooth. Drizzle over cooled king cake then top with colored sugars immediately.

Notes

*A hand-held mixer can work also, but add 2 minutes to mix time. Mixing by hand is possible but tough on the arms! Stir for 8 full minutes if by hand.

Baton Rouge Family Fun https://batonrougefamilyfun.com/

The Little Things Cakes is a home-based bakery owned and operated by Christy Broady. It was founded in 2016 when increasing demand for her baked goods inspired Christy to go into business on her own. In the three years since starting, Christy has grown from making a few dozen cupcakes here and there to several elaborate cakes a month. With her sophisticated flavors and impeccable attention to detail, Christy can’t wait to show you why it’s the little things that will truly make your next event special.

Be sure to check out our full 2021 King Cake Guide here!

2021 King Cake Guide – Baton Rouge and Beyond

January 1, 2021 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

King Cake truly is the demise of many New Year’s resolutions, but how can we resist this buttery danish pastry, sweetened with dusted sugar, icing, and a plethora of flavored fillings? Not us! Here’s a list of numerous places to get King Cakes in Baton Rouge and a plethora of flavors to choose from… traditional, cream cheese, chocolate, praline, strawberry, apple, raspberry to bacon, boudin, and maple! Below we’ve listed over 20 places to get your King Cake fix in Baton Rouge and beyond.

King Cakes in Baton Rouge and Beyond:

Alexander’s – 18111 Highland Market Drive – Phone: 615-7800
Ambrosia Bakery – 8546 Siegen Lane – Phone: 763-6489
Another Piece of Cake Bakery – 1001 Blanchard St Brusly, LA 70719
Baums – Florida Blvd Location 8046 Florida Blvd. Phone: 927-0760 – Perkins Road Location 10550 Perkins Rd. Phone: 767-4838
Brew Ha Ha – 711 Jefferson Hwy Suite 2-A – Phone: 923-1923
Cake Jewels – King Cake Balls – Phone: 337-0253
Calandro’s – Government Street: 383-7815 • Perkins Road: 767-6659
Claudus King Cake – Harahan, LA (504) 521-6683
Dawn’s Sweet Tooth – 13623 Hooper Rd Ste A Central, Louisiana (225) 261-0090
District Donuts – 7415 Corporate Blvd #900, Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Dong Phuong — These king cakes were so popular last year, you were lucky if you got your hands on one. 14207 Chef Menteur Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70129 504-254-1568
Eat Fit King Cake — Those looking to stick to their healthy new year’s resolutions will appreciate the Eat Fit King Cake, a mini 11-oz bundt-style king cake that’s gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, low-carb, and even Keto-approved. They can be found at Alexander’s Highland Market
Gambino’s– 8646 Goodwood Blvd – Phone: 928-7000
Gourmet Girls– 3025 Perkins Rd – Phone: 252-0999
Harvest – 12513 Highway 73 (3.55 mi) Geismar, Louisiana 70734 (225) 673-6504
Haydel’s Bakery – 4037 Jefferson Hwy New Orleans, LA 70121 (504) 837-0190
Hi Nabor Supermarket – Available at all three locations
Les Amis Bake Shoppe – 11826 Coursey Blvd – Phone: 293-8115
Maxwell’s Market – Three Locations – (225) 766-9150
Nanette Mayhall Phone: 343-4530.
Navarre’s Famous King Cakes – 31545 Highway 22 Springfield, Louisiana (225) 294-3438
Oak Point Fresh Market – Watson and Central locations
Ralphs– 15013 Hwy 44 Gonzales – 622-4044 – 6431 Hwy 44 (Pelican Point) Gonzales – 473-1004
Randazzos– You can get your Baton Rouge Randazzo’s at Carnival Mart off Florida BLVD and at Capital City Crawfish!
Rouses – Many locations (225) 448-0050
Strands Cafe– 226 LAUREL ST.- Phone: 344-5346
Sweetime Bakery – 13711 Coursey Blvd, Ste A Baton Rouge, LA 70817 – (225) 615-8005
Thee Heavenly Donut– 17732 Highland Rd – 753.7711 5830 – S. Sherwood Forest Blvd. – 368.0090
Tredici Bakery – 5078 Capital Heights Ave Baton Rouge, LA 70806 – (225) 448-5216
Whole Foods Market – 7529 Corporate Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 – (225) 218-0452

These are not the only places to find King Cake in the Baton Rouge area but this is a great start! If we have missed one of your favorites, please let us know.

Gluten Free King Cake Recipe – Baton Rouge Family Fun

Easy Boudin King Cake – Mardi Gras Recipe (Video)

Top 5 Baton Rouge King Cakes

February 1, 2019 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

King Cake truly is the demise of many New Year’s resolutions, but how can we resist this buttery danish pastry, sweetened with dusted sugar, icing and a plethora of flavored fillings? Not us! Here are the top 5 King Cakes in Baton Rouge according to YOU, Baton Rouge moms! Enjoy this trail of delicious King Cakes, try them all to decide the best for yourself.

Top 5 Baton Rouge King Cakes:

Thee Heavenly Donut – Voted BEST KING CAKE by Baton Rouge moms! Home of the BOUDIN king cake and Pecan Praline, Banana Foster, Turtle, LA Cajun Mud, Strawberry, and famous Fried King Cakes! Owned by a fellow Baton Rouge mom, THEE HEAVENLY Donut’s mission is to offer the freshest (made daily), handmade donuts, kolaches, king cakes, cupcakes, and specialty cakes– all year round. Owners Kara and Shane Castille have a passion for great customer service and treating their customers like family. Their products are like no other in the greater Baton Rouge area!

Oak Point Fresh Market – You can stop by both Watson and Central to grab a specialty King Cake!! Baked fresh daily. Flavors include Chantilly, Black Forest, Caramel Apple Heath, Turtle King Cake, and more!

Rouses – Rouses king cakes are made with their exclusive gourmet cinnamon dough, iced, and sprinkled with decorative sugars in the carnival colors of purple (for justice), green (for faith), and gold (for power).

Calandro’s – With over 50 flavors to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect King Cake at Calandro’s! The new flavor for 2019 is an exciting one. In 2018, Calandro’s started making their own Italian cookies, so of course, they had to infuse a King Cake with Italian Cookie goodness. So the brand new “Little Italy” Gourmet flavor now has Italian cookie crumbles inside and crumbled on top along with a Fig & Bavarian Creme fill combo that is to die for!

Randazzo’s – Your source for the original Randazzo family mardi gras king cake. You can get your Baton Rouge Randazzo’s at Carnival Mart off Florida BLVD and at Capital City Crawfish! Every cake is “hand-braided” and baked fresh daily. Their traditional King Cake is cinnamon flavored, colored with Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold, iced with our just made icing, and festively decorated with candy non-pariels. Each cake contains a baby. King Cakes are complemented by Cream Cheese, Strawberry Cream Cheese, and Pecan Praline. They pump the filling into the braids of the cake before it is baked.

Carnival Mart
8696 Florline Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70815
225-248-9720

Honorable Mention

Ambrosia – There are many options when it comes to The Ambrosia King Cake! The Traditional King Cake (shown here for an “In-Store Pickup”) has cinnamon and sugar inside of our family secret King Cake dough. Purchase a “Mardi Gras King Cake Kit” and take your King Cake home for the kids to decorate and have a Mardi Gras Party!

Ralph’s Market -A locally owned business, Ralph’s Market wants the best for our families and yours. That’s why we always offer a large selection of freshhigh-qualityty products that includes many grown right here in Louisiana! We‘d love to serve you at any of our three convenient and friendly locations in Gonzales, at Pelican Point, and on Jones’ Creek in Baton Rouge.

Ralph's Supermarkey King Cake Baton Rouge

Gambino’s – In New Orleans and around the world, Gambino’s Bakery is a household tradition that offers over sixty-five years of experience with delicious baked goods.

Alexander’s Highland Market – Gluten-sensitive? Cutting back on carbs? Trying to follow a keto diet? Along with their regular king cakes, Alexander’s is catering to you this Mardi Gras season! Alexander’s Highland Market is partnering with Eat Fit BR to provide 100 percent all natural, gluten-friendly, low-carb, keto-friendly king cakes for those whose dietary restrictions prevent them in indulging in the traditional Mardi Gras desserts. The cakes are also soy-free, preservative-free, and have no added sugar.

Be sure to check out Baton Rouge Family Fun’s 2021 King Cake Guide here!

Mardi Gras 2019 – Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Parade Schedule

January 4, 2019 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

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 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. It’s that time of year and we have your full Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Parade Schedule below!

Mardi Gras 2019 is Tuesday, March 5th

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.

2019 Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Parade Schedule:

Please check the individual parade organizations’ websites for updated details.

Krewe of Artemis
Friday, February 22 at 7 PM

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 Orion
Saturday, February 23 at 6:30 PM

The Krewe of Orion’s 20th annual Mardi Gras parade in downtown Baton Rouge will take place on February 23, 2019, at 6:30 PM. Parade goers will be treated to a line of exciting, colorfully-lighted, and tractor-pulled floats. The floats will be decorated to depict this year’s theme. On the floats, masked and costumed riders will throw plenty of themed parade medallions, Krewe of Orion signature footballs, cups, plush items, Orion doubloons, lighted throws, and beads. Marching bands, dance groups, and marching units will be among the great sights and sounds at this wonderful family-oriented parade. Visit the website for more information https://kreweoforion.com/parade/.

Krewe of Mystique de la CAPITALE
Saturday, February 23 at 2 PM

The Krewe of Mystique de la Capitale welcomes you to the 2019 Mardi Gras Parade as they celebrate 41 years of parading in Louisiana’s capital city. They are the city’s oldest parading Mardi Gras Krewe and we’ve shared 41 wonderful years of carnival fun in Baton Rouge. Enjoy plenty of floats, marching bands, dancing groups and, of course, Throws!! They will roll at 2pm beginning near the Canes Rivercenter and proceed down River Road before our trip through downtown!

CAAWS MYSTIC KREWE OF MUTTS
Sunday, February 17 at 10 AM – 4 PM

Join CAAWS for “The Roaring 20th Anniversary” of the CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts Parade on Sunday, Feb. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Baton Rouge! There will be Bark in the Park, an EBRP K9 Demo, Dog Costume Contest, Parade, and After Pawty at Raising Cane’s on Third Street! For more details or to register for activities, visit www.caaws.org/registration. Register online before parade with code 20YEARS and receive 10% off registration! Interested vendors may sign up at www.caaws.org/vendor or email barkinthepark.caaws@gmail.com.

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, March 1 at 7 PM

The 32nd Krewe of Southdowns Parade, Science Fiction, rolls at 7 PM, rain or shine, Friday, March 1st in the Southdowns Neighborhood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This year’s royalty is King Thom Harris and Queen Sylvia Wilson! Children and pets are welcome. Attendees are asked not to park on the parade route itself. Off-route parking will be available. For more information, visit our website at www.southdowns.org

Krewe of Good Friends of the Oaks
Sunday, March 3 at 1 PM

The west side’s only nighttime parade. Lighted throws, street parties, family fun! The 35th Krewe of Good Friends of the Oaks Mardi Gras parade will begin and end at the corner of the LA-1 Service Rd and Oaks Ave. The parade route is as follows: east on Oaks Ave to Jefferson Ave, north on Jefferson Ave to Court St, west on Court St to Sixth St, north on Sixth St to Louisiana Ave, east on Louisiana Ave to Jefferson Ave, south on Jefferson Ave to Oaks Ave, west on Oaks Ave to LA-1 Service Rd.

Krewe Denham Springs
Saturday, February 23 at 3 PM

Mardi Gras season is upon us and we are looking forward to another great year. Our parade will take place on February 23rd. Come out and meet our King and Queen. We are excited to have our signature throws again this year, King Cakes.

Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Parade Schedule

West Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Parades

The Addis Volunteer Fire Department Mardi Gras Parade is held this year on Saturday, February 23, 2019 in Addis.

The Krewe of Good Friends Parade is held the Sunday, March 3, 2019 in Port Allen.

Krewe of Comogo Mardi Gras Parade
Sunday, March 3 at 7 PM

The west side’s only nighttime parade. Lighted throws, street parties, family fun! 57735 Main Street Plaquemine, LA 70764 Highway 1 South Plaquemine LA

Krewe of Comogo Barton Rouge Mardi Gras Parade

Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Festival
Saturday, March 2nd

Free Family Friendly Annual Mardi Gras Festival held in North Blvd Town Square, Downtown Baton Rouge. Enjoy a whole day of live music, art, and great food. The event will showcase live bands and Krewes, with a Vendor Village, art exhibits, food and more.

Family Gras in Metairie
February 22-24, 2019

Concerts, Mardi Gras parades! Fabulous Flambeau Food Court & Beverage Zones, Kid-friendly activities, an Art Market and more.

Family Gras is the perfect getaway for family. A FREE event, Family Gras traditionally takes place on the neutral ground (median) of Veterans Memorial Boulevard across from Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie, Louisiana. An ideal location to see the pageantry of Mardi Gras and enjoy the outdoor concerts by national & local artists on the Mardi Gras Plaza stage. Shop the Art Market filled with a variety of items from Louisiana photography, framed artwork, regional decor, folkart, hair accessories, to hand-crafted jewelry. The kids court is filled with activities for kids 12 and younger. Face painting, unique hand-wax art, and interactive games.

With past performances by Frankie Valli and the Four Season, Tony Orlando, the Pointer Sisters, Blood Sweat & Tears, Zack Brown Band, The Monkees, Leann Rimes, Tito Jackson, Becky G., Jesse McCartney, The Imagination Movers and so many more you know Family Gras offers such a variety of talent each year the entire family can enjoy!

FAMILY GRAS IN JEFFERSON PARISH

NOLA Mardi Gras

If you are new to 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.

Baton Rouge Mardi Gras

ALLA, also known as the “Krewe for ALL,” is a family-friendly Mardi Gras parade rolling on Sunday, February 24, on the traditional New Orleans parade route of Saint Charles Avenue and Canal Street. The parade theme for 2019 is “Are We There Yet?” with floats representing travel destinations around the world. The Krewe of ALLA, founded in 1932, and celebrating its eighty-seventh year in 2019, is the fifth-oldest parading organization in New Orleans Carnival. The Krewe of ALLA welcomes women and men of all backgrounds to parade with the Krewe.

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 Northshore

Mardi Gras 2019 New Orleans Parade Schedule
Mardi Gras 2019 Northshore Parade Schedule
2019 Acadiana Mardi Gras Schedule

Baton Rouge Moms is your Mardi Gras Headquarters! View our comprehensive Family Friendly Mardi Gras Guide HERE!!

The hidden dangers in Mardi Gras beads

February 8, 2016 by Tiany Davis

Bright colored beads thrown from Mardi Gras parades have been the sought-after prize for children and adults alike for decades in Louisiana. But are there hidden dangers that we should be concerned about in these traditional beads? Unfortunately, Mardi Gras beads and many throws are dumping grounds for toxic waste and heavy metals, which pose severe health risks to those who wear or handle them according to researchers.

The hidden dangers in Mardi Gras beads…

Several studies, including a study published by Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, MI in collaboration with VerdiGras, identified dangerous levels of lead, other toxic metals and toxic flame retardants in the strings of beads they’ve tested. The Ecology Center tested 87 previously used Mardi Gras beads for substances that have been linked to asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, reproductive problems, liver toxicity and cancer.

“Over 60% of the products tested (56 of 87) had concentrations of lead above 100 ppm,” the report reads. “For assessment purposes, the U.S. ConsumerProduct Safety Commission (CPSC) limits lead in children’s product(s) to 100 ppm. The highest amount of lead detected was 29,864 ppm in a green, round bead necklace.”

“Unfortunately, a gaping hole in our regulatory system makes it perfectly legal for these products to be sold,” said Jeff Gearhart, principle researcher on the study and research director of the Ecology Center.

The report from the Ecology Center website provides a few recommendations for handling beads safely…

“Do not allow children (or adults) to put beads in their mouths.
Wash your hands after handling the beads.
Bring baby wipes to the parade to wipe children’s hands after catching and playing with beads and before eating.
Wash the beads that have been caught, especially if they were lying on the ground.
Recycle the beads.
Never burn the beads and do not store them in sunlight.
People who regularly handle beads should wear gloves.”

High levels of lead can cause poisoning, which in children can lead to brain damage, stunted development and reduced attention span. It also can cause reproductive problems and impaired fetal development, among other problems.

“It’s disturbing to see products as enticing to children as Mardi Gras and holiday beads containing such high amounts of lead,” said Howard W. Mielke, PhD, a professor at Tulane University School of Medicine who worked on the study. “The only way to reduce a child’s exposure to lead and other toxicants is through prevention, yet children love these beads and often put them in their mouths.”

Sources: www.ecocenter.org

More on the beads made in China – http://blog.nola.com/tpmoney/2008/01/chinesemade_mardi_gras_beads_g.html

Top 5 King Cakes in Baton Rouge

January 6, 2016 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

The holidays may have ended for some, but ours continues with Mardi Gras! It’s King’s Day and the start of the Mardi Gras season. King Cake truly is the demise of many New Year’s resolutions, but how can we resist this buttery danish pastry, sweetened with dusted sugar, icing and a plethora of flavored fillings? Not us!

We asked you to share your favorite Baton Rouge area King Cakes and you did, with over 70 recommendations! Here are the top 5 places to get King Cake according to YOU, Baton Rouge Moms! Enjoy this trail of delicious King Cakes and try them all before Mardi Gras to decide the best for yourself. 😉

Top 5 King Cakes in Baton Rouge:

Randazzo’s King Cake – Your source for the original Randazzo family mardi gras king cake. You can get your Baton Rouge Randazzo’s at Carnival Mart off Florida BLVD and at Capital City Crawfish! “A Tradition in Baking” is what Nonna’s is all about. Every cake is “hand-braided” and baked fresh daily. Their traditional King Cake is cinnamon flavored, colored with Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold, iced with our just made icing and festively decorated with candy non-pariels. Each cake contains a baby. king Cakes are complemented by Cream Cheese, Strawberry Cream Cheese and Pecan Praline. They pump the filling into the braids of the cake before it is baked.

Carnival Mart
8696 Florline Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70815
225-248-9720
Calandro’s King Cake– With over 50 flavors, you’re sure to find the perfect King Cake at Calandro’s, learn more in the video below!
Oak Point Fresh Market – You can stop by both Watson and Central to grab a specialty King Cake!! Baked fresh daily.
Ambrosia & Thee Heavenly Donut tied for fourth place! Ambrosia – There are many options when it comes to The Ambrosia King Cake! The Traditional King Cake (shown here for an “In-Store Pickup”) has cinnamon and sugar inside of our family secret King Cake dough. Purchase a “Mardi Gras King Cake Kit” and take your King Cake home for the kids to decorate and have a Mardi Gras Party!
Thee Heavenly Donut – Home of the BOUDIN kingcake and Pecan praline, Banana Foster, Turtle, LA Cajun Mud, Strawberry OH MY!!!!!
LeBlanc’s – Said to have bigger cakes with more filling, you can get your fresh Kings Cakes at all LeBlanc’s stores or have them shipped!

Honorable Mention: – Mentioned multiple times in our poll were…
Ralph’s Market

Gambino’s

Another Piece of Cake
Be sure to check out our complete Mardi Gras Guide with parade schedule, full list of King Cake locations, Mardi Gras tips for the family and more!

Free Menu, Cleaning and Planning Printables

January 4, 2016 by Tiany Davis

Truth. I am not a naturally organized person. While I’m a great planner and organizer, I am horrible with the follow through. Consistency is not a friend of mine, it’s something I have to work on daily, not only for myself but our family.

More is caught then taught; children are watching and learning from us. Showing them how to be organized and get the most out of each day will be a lesson they will keep with them for the rest of their lives. I’m hoping this will be the year that we get our home organized and keep it up, as a family.

I have created these free printables in hopes that they will help you stay on task and structure your day to day planning, cleaning and organizing, as they have me.

I like to place these printables in clear plastic protector pockets that are hung on the inside of my kitchen cupboards. We can easily cross off tasks with a dry erase marker as they are completed and wipe clean at the end of the day or week.

Free Menu, Cleaning and Planning Printables:

Meals I Can Cook: I keep this printable in our kitchen cupboard and take it down each week when it’s time to menu plan. It’s handy to see all of the meals that I make on a regular basis as well as new meals that become keepers. Without my list, I often forget about meals that I can cook or that we have tried and liked. Download printable —-> Meals I Can Cook

Weekly Menu Plan: Set aside one day each week to plan the weeks menu, including your shopping list! Meal planning will benefit your family in many ways… no more “what’s for dinner” dilemmas and less eating out. Not to mention less chaos as you will not have to scramble to throw something together or run out to the grocery store for a last minute emergency meal. Download printable—-> Weekly Meal Plan

Moms Weekly Planner: ““He who fails to plan is planning to fail” – Winston Churchill This weekly printable gives you a place to note your daily tasks, menu, notes and more. Download blank printable—-> Moms Weekly Planner Blank Filled printable—-> Moms Weekly Planner Filled

Weekly Chore Schedule: Break down the weekly cleaning/chore list and have the kids help out! I place this weekly schedule in our cupboard and use the dry eraser to mark things off and reuse the same chart weekly. Download blank printable —-> Weekly cleaning List Blank Filled printable—-> Weekly cleaning List Filled

Monthly Cleaning Chart: A place to list things that need to be done on a monthly basis, if they are not written down on our chart, I forget to do them. We keep this in a sheet protector as well. Download blank printable —-> M onthly cleaning blank Download filled—->Monthly cleaning Filled

More free organizing and planning printables:

I heart Organizing

The Harmonized House Project

The Confident Mom

Next week we will have children’s chore charts (with a giveaway) and an extensive list of age appropriate chores for kids. Be sure to subscribe to Baton Rouge Moms to receive updates, news and giveaway info right in your inbox!

Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Parades & Events 2016

January 1, 2016 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

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:

Please check the individual parade organizations’ websites for updated details.

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.

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

Sunday, January 31, 2016
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 carljuneau@cox.net or ronijuneau@yahoo.com 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.

Mardi Gras 2016 New Orleans Parade Schedule
Mardi Gras 2016 Northshore Parade Schedule
2016 Acadiana Mardi Gras Schedule