Vinton Mardi Gras Festival & Chicken Run Parade
📅 Saturday, February 7, 2026
⏰ Parade starts at 2 PM
🗺️ Route: Ted Lyons Ballpark → Horridge Street → Vinton Knights of Columbus Hall
Celebrate the inaugural Vinton Mardi Gras festival with a spirited Chicken Run, delicious food, popular local entertainment, and loads of family fun throughout the day.
Lake Charles Mardi Gras Parade & Zydeco Dance
📅 Sunday, February 8, 2026
⏰ Parade starts at 12 PM
🗺️ Route: Lake Charles Event Center → Broad Street → Enterprise Boulevard → Mill Street
Kick off the season with a lively community celebration featuring colorful floats, music, horses, and ATVs parading through Lake Charles. Afterward, head to the Habibi Shriners Hall (2928 Pack Road) for the official after-party with live music and the popular Chicken and Pig Run.
Oak Park Elementary Mardi Gras Parade
📅 Friday, February 13, 2026
⏰ Parade starts at 12:30 PM
🗺️ Route: Oak Park Elementary → 4th Avenue → 13th Street → 5th Avenue → 18th Street
Celebrate the achievements of Oak Park Elementary students as they parade through the neighborhood, showcasing their academic accomplishments and school spirit.
📅 Friday, February 13, 2026
⏰ Parade starts at 7:00 PM
🗺️ Route: Lake Charles Event Center → West Pine Street → Ryan Street → Sale Road
Children’s Mardi Gras Stroll
📅 Saturday, February 14, 2026
⏰ Parade starts at 9:00 AM
🗺️ Route: Millennium Park (North Side) → Gill Street → Bord du Lac → Return to Millennium Park
A walking parade for children ages 3–12! Kids decorate umbrellas, dress up in Mardi Gras colors, and stroll along the lakefront. No throws.
📅 Saturday, February 14, 2026
⏰ Parade starts at 1:00 PM
🗺️ Route: Ryan Street & Broad Street → Broad Street → Cumulus Broadcasting
Pups take center stage as costumed dogs and their owners parade through Downtown Lake Charles. This whimsical event is a crowd favorite, culminating with the crowning of the “Mystical Dog” for best costume.
📅 Saturday, February 14, 2026
⏰ Parade starts at 2:00 PM
🗺️ Route: Lake Charles Event Center → Broad Street → Enterprise Boulevard → Mill Street → Return to Event Center
Founded in 1970, the Krewe of Omega continues its legacy as the area’s first Black Mardi Gras krewe to host its own parade, celebrating community pride and long-standing tradition.
📅 Saturday, February 14, 2026
⏰ Parade starts at 7:00 PM
🗺️ Route: Lake Charles (view from the eastern shoreline)
Once the Gumbo Cook-Off wraps up, the celebration moves to the water! Boats adorned in glowing lights float across Lake Charles, creating a breathtaking nighttime display. This lakeside tradition is one of the most unique Mardi Gras experiences in the region.
📅 Sunday, February 15, 2026
⏰ Parade starts at 3:30 PM
🗺️ Route: Lake Charles Event Center → Ryan Street → Sale Road
One of the most anticipated family events of the season, the Children’s Parade features youth krewes, school groups, community organizations, and more. It’s a fun, feel-good celebration that draws big crowds every year.
📅 Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (Fat Tuesday)
⏰ Parade starts at 10:00 AM
🗺️ Route: Knights of Columbus Hall in Iowa → Highway 90 → Neighborhood Loop → Market Basket → VF Factory Outlet → Return to KC Hall
A rural Southwest Louisiana treasure, the Iowa Chicken Run brings tradition to life with zydeco music, dancing, gumbo ingredients collected along the way—and yes, live chickens tossed into the air for kids to chase. Afterward, families enjoy gumbo, playtime from 2–4 PM, and a zydeco dance featuring local Zydeco artists.
📅 Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (Fat Tuesday)
⏰ Parade starts at 1:00 PM
🗺️ Route: Mill Street & Ryan Street → Ryan Street → 7th Street (Lock Park area)
Feel the heartbeat of Mardi Gras during this lively walking parade filled with dancers, families, and community groups showing off their best moves.
📅 Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (Fat Tuesday)
⏰ Parade starts at 2:00 PM
🗺️ Route: Lake Charles Event Center → West Pine Street → Ryan Street → Sale Road
Jeep lovers unite! In partnership with the Seven Slots Society, this parade brings hundreds of custom, colorful jeeps rolling down Ryan Street in true Mardi Gras style.
📅 Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (Fat Tuesday)
⏰ Parade starts at 3:00 PM
🗺️ Route: Lake Charles Event Center → West Pine Street → Ryan Street → Sale Road
Hot rods, classic cars, and motorcycles steal the spotlight during this high-energy Fat Tuesday parade. It’s a must-see for auto enthusiasts and Mardi Gras fans alike.
📅 Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (Fat Tuesday)
⏰ Parade starts at 5:00 PM
🗺️ Route: Lake Charles Event Center → West Pine Street → Ryan Street → Sale Road
The grand finale of Mardi Gras in Lake Charles! The Krewe of Krewes Parade features more than 60 elaborate floats, blasting music, great throws, and crowds lining the streets hours before showtime. It’s the biggest, boldest, and most iconic parade of the season.
Road Closure and Parking Information
Starting in the downtown area at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, barricades will be placed, closing the on-street parking stalls along Ryan Street from Pryce Street to Clarence Street. Street parking in this area will not be allowed from Thursday, Feb. 12, through Tuesday, Feb. 17, following the conclusion of the Krewe of Krewes Parade.
City Public Works crews and local law enforcement agencies will place traffic barricades along the Ryan Street parade route from Clarence Street south to Sale Road on Friday, Feb. 13, beginning at approximately 8 a.m. Motorists traveling the roadway at this time should use extreme caution, as crews will be placing barricades in the roadway.
Once barricades are placed, traffic along Ryan Street will be restricted to one lane of traffic in each direction in most areas along the route from Friday, Feb. 13, through the conclusion of the Krewe of Krewes Parade on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Ryan Street will remain open to pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and businesses along the route will continue to have access to their locations when parades are not rolling. The route will be completely shut down to all traffic approximately 30 minutes before each parade begins.
Plan Your Mardi Gras Adventure
Ready to experience it all? Book your trip to Lake Charles now and immerse yourself in every parade, stroll, and unforgettable Mardi Gras moment!
