Full 2026 Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Parade Schedule
Lake Charles, LA [KNGT-FM] - Mardi Gras has officially started in Louisiana. Now that we are past Christmas and New Year's, Louisiana's second favorite holiday season is here.
The 2026 Mardi Gras season got underway over the weekend here in Lake Charles with the annual 12th night celebration that took place at the Lake Charles Event Center. That was when all the outgoing krewe's Kings and Queens said goodbye to their 2025 reign, and now all the krewe's will usher in new royalty for 2026.
Mardi Gras is early this year on Tuesday, February 17th, which means the 65-plus krewes in Southwest Louisiana will be looking to hold their annual ball before the weekend of Mardi Gras gets underway.
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If you are not in a Mardi Gras Krewe and will just be attending the Mardi Gras parades and events around the area, we wanted to share with you the full schedule of parades and events going on for the 2026 Mardi Gras season in Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana.
2026 Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Parade Schedule
- Friday, Feb. 13th -- Merchants parade starting at 7:00 pm
- Saturday, Feb. 14th -- Gumbo Cookoff at the amphitheater starting at 9:00 am
- Saturday, Feb. 14th -- Boat Parade starting at 7:00 pm on the lakefront
- Sunday, Feb 15th -- Children's Parade starting at 3:30 pm
- Monday, Feb. 16th -- Lundi Gras Party with Keith Frank at Cowoys Nightclub. Doors open at 7:00 pm
- Tuesday, Feb. 17th -- Second Line Stroll down Ryan Street to Sallier Street starting at 1:00 pm.
- Tuesday, Feb. 17th -- Jeeps On Parade down Ryan Street to Sallier Street starting at 2:00 pm.
- Tuesday, Feb. 17th -- Motor Gras Parade down Ryan Street 3:00 pm
- Tuesday, Feb. 17th -- Krewe of Krewe's Parade starting at the Lake Charles Event Center at 5:00 pm
So there you have it. The full list of parades and events going on this year for the 2026 Mardi Gras season. Have fun out there and have fun.
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