Mardi Gras is just around the corner! On Tuesday, March 5, the city of Lake Charles and surrounding areas will observe the Mardi Gras Holiday. Several events and parades will lead up to that day. The following is an overview of activities planned for the holiday weekend:
Mardi Gras Schedule:
(Click on Event Names for Details and Routes.)
Thursday, February 28 |
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| Lighted Boat Parade | 7:00 PM | Civic Center Seawall |
| CANCELED: City of Sulphur Mardi Gras Parade |
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Friday, March 1 |
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| Merchants Parade | 7:00 PM | Ryan Street Route |
Saturday, March 2 |
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| Gumbo Cook-off | 8:00 AM-2:00 PM | Civic Center Exhibition Hall |
| Krewe of Omega Parade | 2:00 PM | |
| Krewe of Barkus Parade | 2:00 PM | Gill Street (Civic Center Grounds) |
Sunday, March 3 |
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| Taste de la Louisiane | 11:00 AM-1:00 PM | Civic Center Contraband Room |
| Zydeco Dance | 11:00 AM-1:00 PM | Civic Center Mezzanine |
| Children's Day | Noon-3:00 PM | Civic Center Exhibition Hall |
| Mardi Gras Madness 5k | 2:30 PM | Start at Gill St. and Ryan St. ► End at Sale Rd. |
| Children's Parade | 3:30 PM | Ryan Street Route |
Monday, March 4 |
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| Royal Gala | 7:00 PM | Civic Center Coliseum |
Tuesday, March 5 |
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| Iowa Chicken Run | 10:00 AM | KC Hall |
| Second Line Stroll Walking Parade | 1:00 PM | Ryan Street |
| Jeeps on Parade | 2:00 PM | Ryan Street |
| Motor Gras Parade | 3:00 PM | Ryan Street |
| Krewe of Krewes | 5:00 PM | Ryan Street |
More to Know:
The Second Line Stroll and Jeeps on Parade will begin at Pine Street and travel south down Ryan Street to Sallier Street. The Motor Gras Parade will begin at Pine Street and travel south down Ryan Street to Sale Road. Bord du Lac Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic during the parades.
Parking
Ordinance 16489 prohibits street parking during a special event or a parade route in accordance with a designated special event traffic plan. Signs will be posted identifying these “no parking” areas. An unoccupied vehicle in violation may be removed or impounded and the owner and/or operator subject to a citation and fines.
In conjunction with the Mardi Gras 2019 parade route, street parking will not be allowed on Ryan Street, between Mill and Kirby, from 8 a.m. Friday, March 1, through Tuesday, March 5 at the conclusion of the Krewe of Krewes Parade. The on-street parking areas will be barricaded.
Approximately one hour before the Second Line Stroll Walking Parade at 1 p.m., Ryan Street, between Pine and Sallier, will be closed and will remain closed to vehicular traffic until after the Krewe of Krewes parade is concluded.
Traffic/Road Closures
City Public Works crews will place traffic barricades along the parade route Tuesday morning beginning at approximately 5:00 a.m.
Traffic along Ryan Street south of Sallier Street will be restricted to one lane each way in certain areas up to about one hour before the parades, until around 2:30 p.m. when the road will be closed until after the Krewe of Krewes Parade.
Businesses will remain open, and access to their locations will be available throughout the day and up to approximately 30 minutes before a parade.
Motorists should expect long lines of slow-moving traffic and heavy pedestrian traffic along Ryan Street.
Local law enforcement agencies will be on hand to control traffic and crowd issues and to assist parade goers.
Immediately following the Krewe of Krewes Parade, Ryan Street, between Pine Street and Sale Road., will be temporarily closed to all traffic so that City Public Works crews can remove barricades, pick up litter and sweep the streets. Law enforcement officers will divert traffic from this section of Ryan Street, which is expected to remain closed for approximately two hours after the parade.
