Anyone not from the Baton Rouge area might not know about the six Mardi Gras parades that roll through the capital city. While they may not be the Super Krewes of Endymion and Bacchus in New Orleans, the parades closest to the University’s campus offer a fun Mardi Gras experience.
The Krewe of Orion’s 17th annual Mardi Gras parade kicks-off parade season in Baton Rouge. Orion will roll in downtown on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m.
This year’s parade theme is “It’s Good to be the King,” and floats will be decorated to depict a well-known “king.” Masked and costumed riders on the floats will throw themed parade medallions, Krewe of Orion signature footballs, cups, plush items, doubloons, lighted throws and beads.
“Marching bands and riding and marching units will be among the great sights and sounds at this wonderful family-oriented parade,” according to the Krewe’s website.
The following weekend, the Krewe of Artemis will roll through the streets of downtown on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. This will be the Krewe’s 15th annual parade in Baton Rouge.
Revelers will get the chance to catch custom-themed throws, including the Krewe of Artemis’s signature High Heeled Shoe, along with footballs, tambourines, stuffed animals, float beads and lighted throws.
Following Artemis, on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m., the Krewe of Mystique will ride through downtown.
Founded in 1976, Krewe Mystique is the oldest parading Mardi Gras krewe in the Capital City, according to the Krewe’s website.
Rounding out the weekend, the 18th annual Capital Area Animal Welfare Society’s Mystic Krewe of Mutts Mardi Gras parade and “Bark in the Park” parade day events will be held Sunday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. in the downtown area.
The Krewe’s theme this year is “All Paws on Deck – Louisiana Strong.” The Capital Area Animal Welfare Society will honor those who assisted with rescue and recovery during the August 2016 flooding. The Krewe will also be celebrating Baton Rouge’s bi-centennial anniversary.
The Krewe’s “Bark in the Park” along North Boulevard at Town Square will feature activities from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Food vendors, shopping, contests, activities and demonstrations will all be showcased at the event. At noon, the costume contest will be judged on the Town Square Stage. The parade is set to roll at 2 p.m.
“Gather friends, dress up your pooch, decorate a pet-sized Mardi Gras float and register to join in the parade,” the Krewe’s website says.
Moving closer to Mardi Gras day, the Krewe of Southdowns will roll Friday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. in the Southdowns neighborhood in Baton Rouge. The Krewe will be celebrating its 30th anniversary.
According to the Krewe’s website, Southdowns is Baton Rouge’s first, most unique, family-friendly night Mardi Gras parade. The founder of the Krewe, William Gladney, said he was inspired by the flambeauxs he encountered in New Orleans during the ’70s.
The Southdown flambeauxs will lead the parade through the neighborhood, followed by the Dancing Girls, a Southdown tradition, and original, hand-built floats.
Lastly, the 37th annual Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade will make its way through the downtown neighborhood on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 12 p.m. This years theme, “Come Hell or High Water, It’s Slippery When Wet.”
The flamboyant, always pink-themed taboo parade has a rich history as being one of Baton Rouge’s more unique parades. One of Spanish Town’s most recognizable symbols, the pink flamingo, can been see on almost every house in the Spanish Town neighborhood.
The Prancing Babycakes, a marching group that has been a mainstay in the parade for many years, released a statement in January asking revelers to help preserve the spirit of Spanish Town, where crews “deploy a wicked sense of humor and unparalleled smarts to be entertainingly taboo without degrading anyone based on gender, race, sexual preference, or religion.”
They say the main goal is “the communal joy and a shared laugh among adults.” Of course, “…as long as they don’t mind pink panties and free condoms flying at their face.”