Located in the northwest corner of Louisiana, Shreveport-Bossier has established itself as a popular regional Mardi Gras destination for locals and visitors alike.
Over the course of Shreveport-Bossier's Mardi Gras season – which officially begins with the annual 12th Night Celebration on Saturday, January 5, and closes following the Fat Tuesday Bridge Closing Ceremony at midnight on Tuesday, February 12 – an estimated 400,000 people from throughout the region will experience Mardi Gras in Shreveport-Bossier.
The two largest evening parades in Shreveport-Bossier are the Krewe of Centaur, 4:30pm Saturday, February 2, and the Krewe of Gemini, 5pm Saturday, February 9. Both parades will begin at the corner of Clyde Fant Parkway and Lake Street in downtown Shreveport, proceed down Clyde Fant Parkway and turn onto Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, ending at the intersection of Preston Avenue and East Kings Highway near Duck Pond Park.
The Krewe of Centaur parade, "Centaur's Parade of Festivals”, will feature 31 floats, 10 marching bands and 600 krewe members throwing more than 2-milllion beads, cups, stuffed animals, doubloons, and toys.
The Krewe of Gemini parade theme for 2013 is "Gemini Loves Television". Individual float themes will include "The Simpsons", "Cheers", and "Happy Days". The Krewe of Gemini Den is also home to the Krewe of Gemini Mardi Gras Museum, which houses the world's second-largest collection of Mardi Gras royalty costumes.
Shreveport-Bossier's annual Mardi Gras celebrations also include a number of smaller, quirkier parades and events. For instance, the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux's Pet Contest and Mardi Paw Pet Parade provides a chance for festive pets to celebrate Mardi Gras in their own parade on Sunday, February 3 at Riverview Park in downtown Shreveport.
For more information about Mardi Gras in Shreveport-Bossier visit www.shreveport-bossier.org/mardi-gras or for more details select the Mardi Gras page at www.shreveportbossierfunguide.com.
For more information about top events in Louisiana take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Louisiana.