Mardi Gras in Lake Charles Louisiana

“Hey mister throw me something” is what you’ll hear along the routes of any one of the nine Mardi Gras parades in Lark Charles, Louisiana.  That “something” will be ropes of brightly colored beads that people, dressed in the regalia of their Krewe, toss from their floats. 

 New Orleans is synonymous with Mardi Gras, true, but there are Mardi Gras celebrations of all sizes across Louisiana.  New Orleans has the largest and rowdiest of them (practically adults only), whereas Lake Charles, three hours southwest, has the second largest and its celebrations are family friendly.

 Mardi Gras in Lake Charles dates to 1882 when the first Momus, King of Mardi Gras, docked his yacht at the base of downtown.  At that time, there were only a few Krewes, groups of men who pay dues to join and have their own rules, parade floats, kings and queens, knights and captains and stunning costumes.  The name comes from a secret society organized in 1856 by a group of men in New Orleans calling themselves “Ye Mystic Krewe of Comus” after the ancient Greek God of Revelry. Today there are 60 Krewes in Lake Charles. 

Before attending the parades and events head over to the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu in the Central School Arts and Humanities building.  Here you’ll find, on six floors of classrooms, stunning headdresses with plumes and beads and embroidered capes, gowns and kings’ costumes. Along with these are exhibits detailing the history of Mardi Gras and King Cake, why it is drizzled with purple, green and gold icing and has a small plastic doll inside.

Everything kicks off downtown on the Friday before Fat Tuesday (February 28^th) with the Merchants’ Parade of floats filled with business people in costume, of course.  Saturday and Sunday kids can have fun at the Kids, Tweens & Teens Zone with crafts activities, food and musical entertainment, all of which are free.  A popular parade for both children and adults is the Mystical Krewe of Barkus Parade filled with dogs in decorated costumes vying for the title of Mystical Dog.  Not to be missed is Saturday night’s Lighted Boat Parade on the lake. Then dance the night away at the Krewe of Illusions Ball. Top all this off on Monday night at the Royal Gala with a fashion show of kings and queens, dukes and duchesses, knights and captains from all the Krewe’s courts dressed in their stunning costumes. The festivities culminate on Fat Tuesday (February 28^th) with the Krewe of Krewes’ Parade, the largest of the parades, with 100 themed floats from the 60 Krewes winding through the city,

 Go to Lake Charles, enjoy the parades and eat some Louisiana gumbo. But don’t forget the King Cake. If you find the tiny plastic doll (baby Jesus) in your slice, legend has it that luck and prosperity will come your way – and, you must buy the next King Cake.