Tis the season… to let the good times roll in the Red Stick! Mardi Gras is celebrated in Baton Rouge with parades, king cakes, festivals, and balls. You can enjoy all of the Mardi Gras season (that’s right—season) by attending one of Baton Rouge’s Mardi Gras parades this year. Most of Baton Rouge Mardi Gras parades are suitable for family fun, and you’re sure to have a good time joining other members of the Red Stick community to celebrate this carnival time before the reflective period of Lent commences.
If you want to know more about the various Baton Rouge Mardi Gras parades, culture, and other Baton Rouge Mardi Gras celebrations, you’re in the right spot. Learn more about when the Baton Rouge Mardi Gras parades take place (and what they’re like); some of the Baton Rouge festivals and celebrations that happen around Mardi Gras in the Red Stick; and even some info on the Baton Rouge Mardi Gras galas and balls (ooh la la. Our full post on Baton Rouge Mardi Gras is here.)
So, if it’s after Epiphany (January 6th) and before Ash Wednesday, if it’s a Mardi Gras parade in Baton Rouge, you’ll probably find it below. Are you ready? Laissez les bon temps rouler—let the good times roll!
What are the Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Parades?
There are several annual Baton Rouge Mardi Gras parades that are celebrated by Red Stick community members and visitors alike. Some of the Baton Rouge Mardi Gras parades have decades of history; some are brand new fetes, growing and expanding the offering of Mardi Gras parades in Baton Rouge.
Krewe of Oshun
Rolling since 2021, and with a focus on North Baton Rouge, Scotlandville area, Krewe of Oshun is parade and fest, rolled into one day. The parade features floats; dancers; marching bands and is considered family friendly. Following the parade, there’s a festival with a variety of vendors and musical performances. This parade is associated with NBR Now, a group with the stated mission of enriching north Baton Rouge communities and economy through public and private partnerships, and grass roots efforts. Krewe of Oshun parade rolls in February.
2025 Parade: Saturday, February 15, 2025 | Parade 12:00PM | Festival 2:00PM
Krewe of Oshun on Eventbrite | Website: https://oshunbatonrouge.mailchimpsites.com/ | Facebook | Instagram
Mystic Krewe of Mutts
It’s a paw-ty, y’all! A favorite every year is Baton Rouge’s Mardi Gras dog paw-rade, benefitting CAAWS (Capital Area Animal Welfare Society.) Proceeds from Mystic Krewe of Mutts parade go to CAAWS’ spay and neuter programs.
Mystic Krewe of Mutts is more than just a parade. The day starts at 10AM with the opening of Bark in the Park, the festival surrounding the Mystic Krewe of Mutts parade. Bark in the Park hosts lots of vendors (many of them dog and pet related); food sellers and food trucks; plus information booths for some of Baton Rouge’s most treasured animal rescue organizations! For many of these animal groups, this day is a great fundraiser as well as a chance to show off adoptable dogs and recruit volunteer fosters.
What Mystic Krewe of Mutts is like: You’ll see lots of festive-dressed dogs attending Mystic Krewe of Mutts with their humans. Some of the dogs will be competing in the dog costume contest—but even if they aren’t, you’ll see lots of fun dress up (for pups and people alike.) Mystic Krewe of Mutts is fun for children of all ages, especially the animal lovers in your family. The parade itself features groups in theme costumes plus individual walkers, strutting their stuff with their canine companions.
All of the activities of Mystic Krewe of Mutts take place in downtown Baton Rouge. Festival and booths are in Town Square. The parade route is on North Boulevard. Many people find parking in Beauregard Town nearby. Costume contests take place at Noon. Parade rolls at 2:00PM; Bark in the Park closes at 4:00PM. It’s hard to not have fun at Mystic Krewe of Mutts.
2025 Parade: Sunday, February 16, 2025 | Bark in Park fest 10AM – 4PM | Contests 12:00PM | Parade 2:00PM
CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts (including parade route map) https://caaws.org/special_events/krewe-of-mutts/ | Facebook | Instagram | Learn more about CAAWS here
Artemis
The first night parade on this list, Krewe of Artemis is an all-female parade rider affair. Rolling along River Road by the Mississippi River, and weaving through downtown, Artemis is famed for its size and style. Founded in 2001, and with the first Artemis parade taking place in 2003, Artemis takes place two Fridays before Mardi Gras day.
What the Krewe of Artemis parade is like: Tall floats rumble along the parade route with the ladies of Artemis tossing out throws and other lagniappe. The parade is accompanied by several dance troupes and marching bands. You’ll notice that Artemis riders are fully costumed and the vibe is a little more Mardi Gras traditional.
Families enjoy Artemis annually. Since the parade ultimately loops back and ends near the starting line, there’s an unofficial tradition of walking from your starting position to a second location after the parade has passed, allowing parade watcher to get a “two-fer” and effectively see the parade twice (a must for families with die-hard bead collectors.)
Krewe of Artemis does host a formal black-tie soiree but tickets are limited and the event sells out every year.
2025 Parade: Friday, February 21, 2025 | Parade: 7:00PM
Krewe of Artemis website (including parade route map) https://kreweofartemis.net/ | Facebook | Parade Event listing on Facebook
Le Krewe Mystique de la Capitale
Mystique is the longest-running Baton Rouge parade, rolling since 1977 after two krewes came together with the goal of bringing the spirit of Mardi Gras to Cap City. Red Stick long-timers will recall when Mystique used Florida Blvd as their parade route. Today, Mystique rolls in downtown Baton Rouge and is a family-friendly daytime parade (see Orion next for your night parade needs.)
Is there mystique with Mystique? Well, a Mardi Gras krewe is considered to hold mystique if the members don’t reveal themselves until after the parade. Full costume and full face masks are the norm with Mystique de la Capitale. Mystique also holds other traditional Mardi Gras trappings like promoting young ladies as debutantes, black tie events, a King Cake extravaganza, and ornate costumes.
Of note, Mystique annually welcomes nominations of military veterans to be guest parade riders of the krewe as a way to honor the vet’s service to our country.
2025 Parade: Saturday, February 22, 2025 | Parade time: TBA
Le Krewe Mystique de la Capitale https://krewemystique.com/ | Facebook
Orion
Another major night parade, Krewe of Orion rolls through downtown Baton Rouge on the heels of Mystique’s day run. Don’t get it twisted: there’s no coattail riding here. Orion knows how to throw a parade (and some beads and their signature footballs!) like nobody’s business. The Orion krewe is made up of gentlemen float riders who desire to host a more traditional style Mardi Gras parade.
What the Orion parade is like: Lit up floats and costumed riders throw specialized beads, doubloons, and the aforementioned toy footballs. Be on your toes to catch these dazzling and collectable throws! In addition to the floats, large scale dance and music groups fill out the carnival celebration.
In Greek mythology, Orion is a hunter, armed with bow and arrow. Krewe of Orion says they are “hunting” for opportunity to promote Baton Rouge, tourism, community spirit, and goodwill.
2025 Parade: Saturday, February 22, 2025 | Parade: 6:30PM
Krewe of Orion https://kreweoforion.com/ | Facebook | Instagram
Mid City Gras
Y’all ready to go nuts? One of the more irreverent parades in Baton Rouge was created to celebrate the arty and cool Mid City neighborhood. Mid City Gras has a cute (and mischievous?) squirrel named Sparky as a mascot who is ready to go nuts (in a family friendly way, of course.)
Baton Rouge actually has a tradition of Mardi Gras parades starting as neighborhood events (see Southdowns and Shenandoah coming up) and Mid City Gras is ready to promote all things Mid City, including all the Mid City businesses and groups that participate in this parade.
What the Mid City Gras parade is like: The Mid City Gras parade route is a straight shot, starting at 22nd Street, running up North Blvd in Mid City, and ending at Baton Rouge Community College. Mid City Gras prides itself on being silly and celebratory. Parade participants will include more walkers and more local businesses and civic organizations. The squirrel theme runs deep—look out for acorns.
Thankfully, Mid City Gras has added an Epiphany event to their celebration lineup, meaning Baton Rouge finally has some festivities to mark the official start to the Mardi Gras season (Mardi Gras, liturgically, is the period between Epiphany—January 6th—through Ash Wednesday.) Mid City Gras also hosts a ball.
If you love Mid City Baton Rouge or if you want to get involved in this part of the community, Mid City Gras is a must.
Mid City Gras is held “always the Sunday before the Sunday before Mardi Gras (except when it isn’t.)” (Their words, not ours; the Mid City Gras sense of humor even comes through in their announcements.)
2025 Parade: Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 | Parade: 1:00PM
Mid City Gras https://www.midcitygras.org/ | Facebook | Instagram| Mid City Gras Ball on IG | Check MCG’s Facebook for info on Epiphany, Ball tickets, and other get-togethers
Krewe of Southdowns
Winding endlessly through the Southdowns neighborhood, Krewe of Southdowns is probably the most kid-friendly Baton Rouge Mardi Gras event. A night parade, Southdowns is famed for all the light-up throws (like glow sticks, LED lit bouncing balls, glow in the dark toys) and beads galore. Floats are frequently filled with younger riders as sports teams, scouting troops, youth groups et al take to the parade.
The parade route is positively serpentine, making switchback after switchback, seemingly touching every street in the neighborhood. How can you tell where the parade is? Look for the skylight that leads the way (if you’re arriving to the parade a little late, it’s fun to track the skylight cutting across the night sky.) Lots of residents of Southdowns lean into parade night, hosting house parties and celebrating Mardi Gras from their front yards.
What is the Krewe of Southdowns parade like: Southdowns parade is for the young ones. Intense Mardi Gras enthusiasts will cut across streets to catch the parade multiple times (since the route is so twisty and turny through the neighborhood.) Look out for the light-up throws and civic spirit of the floats. Playful parade walkers might include bicycles with LED lit wheels; playful insect costumes (with light-up wings and antennae, of course); disco buses; dancers. Southdowns can feel intense (but fun) because of the tightly packed crowds and the narrow street-wide parade route. Listen for the bagpipes and for each float to have their own musical motif. Krewe of Southdowns is a neighborhood parade that has grown through the years into one of Baton Rouge’s most anticipated and appreciated parades.
Krewe of Southdowns parade is held the Friday night before Mardi Gras. CAUTION: if your commute usually takes you on Lee Drive or really anywhere through the Southdowns neighborhood, make alternate travel plans on parade day. Law enforcement will cut off traffic and give you no alternative route—you’ve been advised! Pro Tip: Many people park at Acadian Perkins Plaza Shopping Center and hoof it into Southdowns to parade watch (careful getting across Perkins Road! Use your best discretion!)
2025 Parade: Friday, February 28, 2025 | Parade: 7:00PM
Krewe of Southdowns Mardi Gras Parade https://www.southdowns.org/ | Facebook
Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade
Oh, here we geaux. The biggest; the baddest; the pinkest; the maddest (mad fun, that is.) It’s Spanish Town, the most notable notorious Baton Rouge Mardi Gras parade. Held midday on the Saturday before Mardi Gras, Spanish Town is known for pink flamingos everywhere, hot pink beads and throws, hot pink costumes and attire (for parade riders and parade watchers alike—wear pink, yo!) and a general air of rowdiness and unbridled revelry.
Spanish Town parade has a reputation for featuring biting political wit (politicians get mocked, no one is off limits) and is a bit more risqué, ribald, or even raunchy compared to other Red Stick Mardi Gras festivities. While plenty of families do attend Spanish Town, attendees should consider Spanish Town a “Rated R” parade event (in the opinion of this website’s HQ. Our two cents.)
Why the pink flamingos? Well, legend has it that the quirky Spanish Town neighborhood has the motto of “bad taste is better than no taste at all.” What embodies this ethos better than anything else? Why, a plastic pink flamingo that’s what. The pink flamingo theme extends beyond the Spanish Town parade—large wooden pink flamingos can be spotted all over Baton Rouge serving as an unofficial mascot to Baton Rouge’s overall Mardi Gras culture. Wooden pink flamingos first show up in LSU Lakes to announce the start of Spanish Town Mardi Gras’ season. Owning one of the flamingos is a sought-after status symbol. Look for flamingos in storefront windows and in folk’s front yards (bolted to trees—flamingo theft is a thing!!)
The Spanish Town Ball is an affair that is equally wild as the parade, featuring over-the-top crazy costumes and boozy escapades. Nothing Spanish Town Mardi Gras related is for the faint of heart.
However, Spanish Town Mardi Gras isn’t all debauchery: they also host a golf tournament which has raised over $1 million for charity.
What the Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade is like: Pink and wild are the two dominant themes of the Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade. This is Baton Rouge’s biggest and most exuberant Mardi Gras event. Prepare for crowds; difficulty getting around town; more bawdy behavior than other parades; tipsiness; and to see hot pink and flamingos everywhere.
The Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade rolls on Spanish Town Road as well as weaves through part of downtown. When driving in to attend the parade, plan on parking some distance from the center of activity. The parade generally starts at Noon; attendees often start gathering at 10AM. Walking is going to be a big part of the day for Spanish Town. Be on the lookout for (ahem) “over served” attendees.
The Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade, ball, and golf tourney are organized and hosted by the Society for the Preservation of Lagniappe in Louisiana.
2025 Parade: Saturday, March 1, 2025 | Parade: 12:00PM
Spanish Town Mardi Gras https://mardigrasspanishtown.com/ | Facebook (group; may not be official) | Instagram (may not be official, but they’ve got some flamingos in the works)
Krewe of Shenandoah
Coming in hot and delivering up a Lundi Gras parade in the neighborhood parade tradition is Krewe of Shenandoah. (Lundi Gras—literally “Fat Monday”—is akin to Mardi Gras Eve. Mardi Gras is “Fat Tuesday.”) A little background that will help you understand Krewe of Shenandoah a little better. Shenandoah is a suburban-style area of Baton Rouge, built in the 80s and 90s over what previously was a major golf course. Read more about Shenandoah in our Red Stick Strong neighborhood guide.
One of the funny features of Shenandoah is doing a little gardening or walking on some turf only to find an ancient golf ball, working its way from the depths up to the surface. Why mention all this? Meet Dimples the Golf Ball—the Krewe of Shenandoah Mardi Gras mascot. In addition to the golf ball mascot, prepare yourself for golf puns and golf themes—like the inaugural theme (2024) “May the Course Be With You.”
Since Shenandoah is a neighborhood parade, the Krewe hosts a festive yard decoration contest.
What the Krewe of Shenandoah parade is like: Family fun and homespun floats, cheerleaders, marching bands, lots of parade walkers. The hunger in the Red Stick for events on Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras are real—the turnout for the first Shenandoah parade in 2024 was beyond all expectations. Look to Krewe of Shenandoah to become a local favorite way to close out the Baton Rouge Mardi Gras season for years to come.
2025 Parade: Monday, March 3, 2025 | Parade 7:00PM
Krewe of Shenandoah https://www.kreweofshenandoah.com/ | Facebook
Recap: Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Parades 2025 at a Glance
- Krewe of Oshun: Saturday, Feb. 15th, 2025; 12:00PM
- CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts: Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025; 2:00PM
- Krewe of Artemis: Friday, Feb. 21, 2025; 7:00PM
- Le Krewe Mystique de la Capitale Parade: Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025; Parade start TBA
- Krewe of Orion: Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025; 6:30PM
- Mid City Gras: Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025; 1:00PM
- Krewe of Southdowns Mardi Gras Parade: Friday, Feb. 28, 2025; 7:00PM
- Spanish Town Mardi Gras: Saturday, March 1, 2025; 12:00PM
- Krewe of Shenandoah: Monday, March 3, 2025; 7:00PM
Conclusion
Did you know Baton Rouge had all these Mardi Gras parades and celebrations? Read more on Mardi Gras in the Red Stick here. Which parades are you planning to attend? What else do you want to know about Baton Rouge Mardi Gras parades? The Red Stick does celebrate Mardi Gras—even if it’s in our own way and with our own style and pace (like many other things in Baton Rouge.) We hope this guide helps you with all your parades this season as you enjoy the good times rolling!
1 thought on “Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Parade Guide: Let the Good Times Roll in the Red Stick”
Comments are closed.