Area’s Mardi Gras events start Sunday

Published 6:00 am Friday, February 9, 2018

The Mardi Gras holiday is about to get underway in the Teche Area, with parades on the move throughout the week, plus a brand new festival. 

St. Martinville’s inaugural Newcomers Club Mardi Gras Festival is set to take place  from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Martinville’s Festival Grounds. 

The event will include music, local dancing groups, food and craft vendors, a poker run, a Krewe de Mardi Gras costume contest and a children’s corner from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

Live performances include the Grand Slam Band from noon to 2 p.m., followed by Donna Angelle from 3 to 5 p.m. Kamesha Cole. Soul Konnection will take the stage from 6 to 8 p.m. while Danger and the Zydeco All Stars close out the festival from 9 to 11 p.m.

Entrance to the festival is free for children 3 and under, $1 for ages 4-12 and $5 for those over 13.

The town’s African American Museum will play host to a private showing of its exhibit on Black Mardi Gras Saturday starting at 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 and available at St. Martinville City Hall or by calling 394-2230.

For more information, visit the City of St. Martinville’s Facebook page, call 380-6031 or 394-2233 or e-mailni troandbat@aol.com or info@stmartinville.org. 

The Grand Mardi Gras Parade will start at 11 a.m. Tuesday near U.S. 90 and College Road in Grand Marais, with events to follow after the parade.  

In other events, Franklin will put on its annual parade Mardi Gras parade Tuesday. The parade rolls at 1 p.m. at Franklin Senior High School, and will then travel east on Main Street, making a U-turn and then continue onto Willow Street and ending at Third Street.

The Loreauville Family Affair Mardi Gras Parade plans to get going at 2 p.m. Tuesday. The parade starts near the Corner Store and rolls down Main Street. Organizer Mike Sorrell said organizers are meeting this weekend to determine the final number of floats. 

“We had a good turnout last year, but we’re hoping to make it even better this year,” Sorrell said. 

The Krewe of Coteau Mardi Gras Parade that was scheduled for Mardi Gras Day was canceled. Organizer Gail Comeaux said the parade did not have sufficient participation this year. 

The Krewe of Cypremort Sippers parade that was scheduled for Saturday in Cypremort Point also  was canceled, according to a social media post from the krewe on Thursday. 

Baldwin’s parade also is canceled.