Time Line For Road Closures for Lake Charles Mardi Gras Parades
Lake Charles, LA [KNGT-FM] - The final week of Mardi Gras is here, and it all gets underway in Lake Charles starting on this Friday night, February 13th, with the first of many parades.
People will start lining up and down Ryan Street starting Friday to stake their claim on the perfect spot to take in and watch all the parades. From the Merchants parade on Friday night to the Children's Parade on Sunday to several parades scheduled on Fat Tuesday, traffic is sure to be thick, and you may have a tough time navigating around the entire Ryan Street area in Lake Charles.
Read More: 2026 Full List of Mardi Gras Parades and Events in Lake Charles & SWLA
Some of the parades run downtown Lake Charles all the way to Sale Street in South Lake Charles. That is a few miles of roadway, and to try to cross over Ryan Street heading East or West will be a challenge.
If you plan to go out to the parades this year, you are going to want to know the timeline of all of the traffic changes and road closures, and when they will occur. The City of Lake Charles has announced the following timeline:
- Baricade placement down Ryan Street will begin on Thursday, February 12th
- You are not allowed to park from Pryce to Gill Street from Thursday, Feb 12, through Feb. 17th
- Lane Restrictions on Ryan Street will begin on Friday, Feb. 13th
- Full Closures of all roads on the parade route will occur 30 minutes before the parades begin in downtown Lake Charles.
These tips should help you navigate around town better and make you aware of when you will need to leave your house to make it to your spot before each parade.
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