Compiled By Barbara Gautreaux

Experience Mardi Gras in Acadiana through its parades, carnivals and balls. Before the solemn season of Lent, make sure to attend the revelry leading up to Fat Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12

Mystic Krewe de Fou of Iberia Mardi Gras Ball, 7 p.m., Cade Community Center, 1688 Smede Highway, Cade. For ticket information visit the Facebook page or call 519-0306.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19

Andalusia Mardi Gras Ball, 8 p.m., Sugar Cane Festival Building, New Iberia. Membership only.

Krewe de Bayou Mardi Gras Ball, 7 p.m.-midnight, Downtown Ballroom, 417 Jefferson Street, Lafayette. Tickets for general admission $30 available through TicketFly. Tables of six $250, call 233-6000 for VIP seating. This is the Krewe’s first ball, open to the public; tickets are limited.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25

Krewe des Chiens People Ball, 7 p.m., Abacus, 530 West Pinhook Road,  Lafayette. Tickets $45. Visit www.paradefordogs.com or call 337-501-7693.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1

Krewe of Andalusia Mardi Gras Parade, 6:30 p.m., downtown New Iberia. For information call 367-6466 or the City at 369-2300.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2

Krewe of Iberians Ball, 7:45 p.m., Sugar Cane Festival Building, New Iberia City Park. The ball is membership only, but spectators may pay $1 at the door to watch pageant from balcony.

Krewe des Chiens Parade for Dogs, 2 p.m., Lafayette Street, downtown Lafayette. Registration opens at noon. Pre-registration is $25, parade day registration $35, per dog. For theme and information, visit paradefordogs.com.

Krewe of Carnivale en Rio Mardi Gras Parade, 6:30 p.m., downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette. Map at www.mardigraslafayette.net.

Rotary Club Mardi Gras Ball, 7 p.m., Cade Community Center, St. Martinville. 2013 Theme is King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Music by Side Show. Tickets $25. Call 337-394-2233 or visit www.stmartinville.org for more information.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3

Krewe of Ezana Jeanerette Mardi Gras Parade, 1 p.m., Jeanerette. Route includes Canal Street to Main to Martin Luther King.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Friday Night Parade, 6:30 p.m., downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette. Features multiple krewes from the Greater Southwest Mardi Gras Association. Map at www.lafayette.travel.com.

Cornucopia Ball Dress Rehearsal, 7 p.m., Cade Community Center, St. Martinville. Tickets $10. Call 789-3592 for information about this Children’s Event, sponsored by the Creole Farmer’s Market Committee.

Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette, 5 p.m.-midnight, Cajun Field. Free admission, parking $10. Presented by the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association, the festival includes carnival midway, food and live entertainment, and all Lafayette parades roll through the festival grounds. Opens at noon Saturday through Monday; Tuesday hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Courir de Mardi Gras, 5-10:30 p.m., Saddle Tramp Club House, 1036 E. Ebey Street, Church Point. Parades are downtown. Friday has gumbo cook-off. Also Saturday with Children’s Parade and Sunday with Courir. Visit www.churchpointmardigras.com for schedule of events.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9

Cornucopia Ball, 7 p.m., Cade Community Center, St. Martinville. Tickets $12.50. Call 789-3592 for information about this Children’s Event, sponsored by the Creole Farmer’s Market Committee.

Lake Fausse Pointe Mardi Gras Parade, 2 p.m., Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, 5400 Levee Rd, St. Martinville.

Krewe of Bonaparte Mardi Gras Parade, 6:30 p.m., downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field. Map of the parade route at gomardigras.com.

Children’s Parade, 12:30 p.m., downtown, corner of Lafayette Street and West Vermilion, to Cajun Field.

Baldwin Mardi Gras Parade, noon, Highway 83 at Martin Luther King Drive, Baldwin.

Youngsville Mardi Gras Parade, 10 a.m., starting at Détente Road or Savoy, proceed North to Railroad Avenue to Church Street. Ends at Griffin Road. Call the City of Youngsville at 856-4181 for more information or to participate.

Cypremort Pointe Parade, 1 p.m., Cypremort Point. Visit www.cajuncoast.com for information.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10

Newcomers Mardi Gras Parade, 1 p.m., Main Street, St. Martinville. Call 380-6031 for information.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11

Queen’s Parade, 6 p.m., downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field. Celebrating Queen Evangeline and her Court. For information call 800-346-1958 or visit www.gomardigras.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12

Independent Parade, 2 p.m., downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette. Call 237-1500 for information.

Grand Marais Mardi Gras Parade, 11 a.m., Hwy 90 East at College Road, Jeanerette. Call 365-8185 for more information.

Family Affair Mardi Gras Parade, 2 p.m., Main Street Loreauville. Call 229-4072 for information.

Franklin Mardi Gras Parade, 1 p.m., downtown Franklin.

King’s Parade, 10 a.m., downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette. Celebrating King Gabriel, who reigns over the Lafayette Mardi Gras. Contests and more. Call 800-346-1958 for more information.

Krewe of Coteau Mardi Gras Parade, 1 p.m., Francis Romero Memorial Park and Highway 88, Coteau. Call 337-519-4606 for more information.

Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade, 1 p.m., downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette. Visit www.gomardigras.com for additional information.

Southwest Mardi Gras Association Pageant & Ball, 8 p.m., Heymann Performing Arts Center and Frem F. Boustany Convention Center, 1373 S. College Road, Lafayette. Ball begins at 9:30 p.m. Free to the public, however, tickets are required and will be available at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. Call 337-291-5540.