Here’s what you need to know about the biggest, most exciting parades rolling through our area:
🌟 This Year’s Mardi Gras Themes are all about fun! 🚀
✨ Krewe de Riviére Parade, "Island Time" – February 7, 2026 at 3:00 pm – This parade kicks off first and is full of dazzling floats, crazy costumes, and tons of beads flying through the sky! You’ll want to bring a bag (or maybe even a bucket!) to catch all the goodies.
✨ Krewe of Janus Parade "Throw Me Somthin' Mister" – February 7, 2026 at 6:00 pm – This is one of the most famous Mardi Gras parades in Northeast Louisiana, and trust us—it’s BIG and BRIGHT! If you love music, dancing, and amazing floats, this is the parade for you!
👑 How to Get Ready for the Fun 👑
1️⃣ Dress in Mardi Gras colors—purple (for justice), green (for faith), and gold (for power)! Bonus points if you wear a fun mask! For Krewe de Riviere, they suggest dressing like you are a tourist! Think Hawaiian shirt, sunglasses, etc.
2️⃣ Bring a big bag to catch beads, candy, and surprises.
3️⃣ Get ready to yell "Throw me something, mister!"—it’s the best way to score cool stuff from the floats! The
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The crowd is yelling, "Throw me something, Mister!" | You might catch some doubloons at a Mardi Gras parade. |
4️⃣ Be safe! Stay with your grown-ups and watch out for floats and marching bands.
5️⃣ Have FUN! Mardi Gras is all about celebrating together, so dance, laugh, and enjoy the magic of the parades!
🎂 Make Your Own King Cake! 🎂
Want to keep the Mardi Gras fun going at home? We’ve included super-easy, kid-friendly instructions for making your delicious king cake! Grab an apron and some sprinkles, and get ready to bake up a sweet treat fit for a Mardi Gras king or queen!
History of Mardi Gras
Let's learn about the history of Mardi Gras by watching this fun video. You are going to learn when Mardi Gras first started and also about some of the fun foods that are eaten during Carnival Season.
You Can Make Your Own King Cake!
This will be so much fun, and it will be so yummy! Are you ready?
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I bet your kitchen smells wonderful! Make sure you let your King Cake cool down before you take a big bite and don't forget to share.
See how ours turned out!
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For details about all of the 2026 parade activities, go to the 2026 Monroe-West Monroe Mardi Gras Guide made possible by CC's Coffee House of Monroe. If you want the scoop on awesome places to get King Cake and other Mardi Gras treats, we've got you covered with our 2026 King Cake Guide!
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