Mardi Gras in Shreveport-Bossier City

Carnival celebrations in Shreveport-Bossier City emphasize family fun, with plenty of food, music, parades and activities – the kind of entertainment that makes events in this area anything but average.

Take our parade "throws," for instance: By some estimates, Mardi Gras float-riders in this area toss more than 8 million beads each year to seas of people waving their arms and shouting, "Throw me something, mister!" Over the course of two weekends, parades by Carnival organizations the Krewe of Centaur and the Krewe of Gemini attract as many as 400,000 visitors. The parades are so successful that in 2005 the American Bus Association named the Krewe of Centaur Parade one of the Top 100 Events in North America.

Besides those two big parades, smaller events by such groups as the the pet-owning Krewe of Barkus and Meoux, the Krewe of Highland and the Krewe of Aesclepius are popular with local crowds. In addition to the parades, the glitzy Mardi Gras balls and the tradition of king cakes help make the Carnival season particularly memorable for visitors.

You’ll have so much fun at our Mardi Gras festivals, you won’t want them to end. Come on and get in on the Mardi Gras fun!