Mardi Gras Parade Guide for the United States
 Mardi Gras in New Orleans |
Mardi Gras is celebrated with parades and balls in cities and towns all over the United States before Lent each year. Listed below are Mardi Gras parades from North Carolina to California, from Alabama to South Dakota, and many places in between. Also included are detailed Mardi Gras activities in Louisiana and Texas.
The next Mardi Gras will fall on February 16, 2021. Parades and balls begin in many locations in most years in January.
Epiphany, on January 6, begins the carnival season in New Orleans and other locales.
Mardi Gras is always on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, and can fall on any Tuesday between February 3 and March 9 (depending on the date of Easter, and Ash Wednesday).
The day before Mardi Gras is known as Shrove Monday or Lundi Gras.
This magnificent, costumed, beaded and feathered carnival is rich with tradition and is all about having a good time! The classic Mardi Gras colors are purple, green and gold, symbolizing justice, faith and power.
Mardi Gras parades are organized by social clubs known as "krewes", and usually follow the same parade route each year.
Included below is a list Mardi Gras events normally scheduled in Louisiana, Texas and other states during previous years ... the list focuses on long-running krewes and those with widespread appeal. Click on city/event links for prelimiary details, parade schedules and dates.
IMPORTANT NOTE Concern over the spread of the Coronavirus has resulted in the postponement, rescheduling or cancellation of some Mardi Gras 2021 events. Events are always subject to change. We recommended you contact the responsible event sponsor/krewe to confirm dates, times, parade schedules, routes and other details. |
Throw me something mister!Beads in the air at Mardi Gras ... these cheap strings of multi-colored beads have been thrown from floats to eager parade-goers for decades. |
Also thrown from floats are the coin-like plastic or wooden "doubloons". Seen here is Mardi Gras at Universal Studios in Orlando.
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Mardi Gras Parades & Events in Louisiana (Preliminary)
We recommend you check with individual parade sponsors/krewes to determine the latest parade schedules, routes, times and other information. Due to the spread of the Coronavirus, many parades and events have been postponed, rescheduled or cancelled.
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Mardi Gras fun in downtown New Orleans
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Where to Experience Mardi Gras in Texas (Preliminary)
We recommend you check with individual parade sponsors/krewes to determine the latest parade schedules, routes, times and other information. Due to the spread of the Coronavirus, many parades and events have been postponed, rescheduled or cancelled.
Mardi Gras parade and festivities in downtown Galveston, Texas
(Courtesy of the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau) |
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Mardi Gras Events Across the United States (Preliminary)
We recommend you check with individual parade sponsors/krewes to determine the latest parade schedules, routes, times and other information. Due to the spread of the Coronavirus, many parades and events have been postponed, rescheduled or cancelled.
| Mardi Gras in Alabama | |
| Daphne | Daphne Mardi Gras |
| Decatur | Decatur Carnegie Carnival |
| Fairhope | Fairhope Mardi Gras |
| Gulf Shores and Orange Beach | Gulf Shores Mardi Gras |
| Huntsville | Huntsville Mardi Gras |
| Mobile | Mobile Mardi Gras |
| Mardi Gras in Arkansas | |
| Eureka Springs | Eureka Springs Mardi Gras |
| Fayetteville | Fayetteville Mardi Gras |
| Mardi Gras in California | |
| Nevada City | Annual Mardi Gras Parade & Street Faire |
| San Diego | San Diego Mardi Gras |
| Mardi Gras in Colorado | |
| Denver | Denver Mardi Gras |
| Mardi Gras in Florida | |
| Dunedin | Dunedin Mardi Gras Parade |
| Lake Wales | Lake Wales Mardi Gras |
| Leesburg | Mardi Gras Party in the Street |
| Navarre | Navarre Beach Mardi Gras |
| Orlando | Universal Studios |
| Panama City Beach | PCB Mardi Gras and Music Festival |
| Pensacola | Pensacola Mardi Gras |
| Mardi Gras in Georgia | |
| St. Marys | Annual Mardi Gras Festival & Parade |
| Mardi Gras in Mississippi | |
| Long Beach & Mississippi Gulf Coast | Gulf Coast Mardi Gras |
| Vicksburg | Vicksburg Mardi Gras |
| Mardi Gras in Missouri | |
| St. Louis | St. Louis Soulard Mardi Gras |
| Mardi Gras in New Mexico | |
| Red River | Mardi Gras in the Mountains |
| Mardi Gras in New York | |
| Ellicottville | Mardi Gras Parade & Winter Carnival |
| Mardi Gras in North Carolina | |
| Asheville | Asheville Mardi Gras |
| Mardi Gras in Oklahoma | |
| Norman | Norman Mardi Gras |
| Mardi Gras in Oregon | |
| Portland | Portland Mardi Gras |
| Mardi Gras in South Dakota | |
| Deadwood | Deadwood Mardi Gras |
| Mardi Gras in Washington, D.C. | |
| Washington, D.C. | Mystick Krewe of Louisianians Jefferson Chamber Mardi Gras |
| Mardi Gras in Wisconsin | |
| La Crosse | Coulee Region Mardi Gras |
Mardi Gras parade and festivities in downtown Mobile, Alabama
(Courtesy of Visit Mobile) |
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Mardi Gras at Pier Park in Panama City Beach, Florida
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Mardi Gras King Cakes
Long a Mardi Gras tradition, the King Cake is made from a rich dough and filled with cream cheese, cinnamon, chocolate, or other goodies. It is topped with a glaze and sprinkles, in the Mardi Gras colors or gold, green, and purple.
There is traditionally a small baby inside the cake ... whoever gets the baby in their piece of the King Cake gets the honor of bringing the next cake to the party or office!
It's just not Mardi Gras without a King Cake!
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Mardi Gras Dates in Upcoming Years
 New Orleans ... famous for Mardi Gras |
Calculating future Mardi Gras dates really isn't that complicated!
Easter is on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. The date can range from March 23 to April 25. Ash Wednesday is 46 days before Easter, and Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday.
With that said, here is a list of the next five Mardi Gras dates:
- February 16, 2021
- March 1, 2022
- February 21, 2023
- February 13, 2024
- March 4, 2025
Masked riders throwing beads during a Mardi Gras parade
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Mardi Gras Parade in Gulf Shores, Alabama
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Mardi Gras in San Diego, California |