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Experience Mardi Gras in Lake Charles, LA (Fun For All Ages)

Mardi Gras festivities in Lake Charles, Louisiana provide plenty of fun for the adults.

It’s also a family-friendly environment you would totally feel comfortable bringing your family.

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Thanks again to Visit Lake Charles for hosting my visit. This article contains affiliate links. 

What Makes Mardi Gras in Lake Charles Special?

What makes Southwest Louisiana so special is the people.

Their pride in tradition, food, and hospitality makes you feel like family within moments of meeting. (The kind of family you actually want to hang out with.)

Lake Charles hosts the second-largest Mardis Gras celebration in the state. It’s both family-friendly… AND still fun for adults. 

That in itself says a lot!

What is there to do in Lake Charles around Mardi Gras?

I’m glad you asked and I’ve got you covered.

gator-mascot-lake-charles-mardi-gras

Visit the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu

The Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu is a MUST! It really helps you gain a greater appreciation for the costumes and pageantry of Mardi Gras.

I recommend visiting the museum at the beginning of your trip.

king-cake-baby-mardi-gras-museum-adventure-mom-blog

The Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu provides a wonderful introduction to the culture around Mardi Gras and gives guests an insight into how grand the festivities are during the Mardi Gras season.

As a Midwest girl, I had no idea that the Mardi Gras season is celebrated to almost the same level as the Christmas holiday season. 

krewe-costume-mardi-gras-museum-calcasieu-adventure-mom-blog

Home of The 2nd Largest Mardi Gras in Louisiana 

Most people think of New Orleans when it comes to Mardi Gras but Lake Charles is still a contender. It actually holds the 2nd largest Mardi Gras celebrations in the state of Louisiana.

The museum boasts the largest display of Mardi Gras costumes in the world.  There are 295 costumes that take creativity to a whole new level!

chicken-run-costume-mardi-gras-museum

As you walk through the museum you will see how costumes have changed through the years.

You’ll learn about the history of King Cakes, discover what Mardi Gras is like in different parts of Southwest Louisiana. Guests can even climb aboard a float and throw out some beads!

olympic-theme-costume-mardi-gras-museum-imperial-calcasieu

As you walk through the museum you will see some of the sketches of the costumes in concept form that have been brought to life.

Kids and adults can try on a mask or hat and even try on a mardi gras costume in a designated section of the museum for a fun photo opp.

mardi-gras-museum-imperial-calcasieu-costume-adventure-mom-blog

There is a lot of detail to take in with costumes that can cost between $3-5000+ and can take almost a year to create so make sure that you walk slowly so that you don’t miss a thing.

You will definitely have a new appreciation for the value of an ostrich feather after your visit.

Boudin Trail Lake Charles LA

Eat Your Way Through the Boudin Trail

What is boudin? I’m glad you asked.

Boudin (pronounced bü-dan) is a Cajun rice sausage that is very popular in Southern Louisiana.

Boudin is made with ground pork, liver, rice, parsley, onions, salt, black pepper, red pepper, and other seasonings. The “other seasonings” vary from cook to cook

Boudin

The sausage can be steamed or smoked. There is even a Southwest Boudin Trail so that you can sample the variations in the area.

You can literally watch the sausage being made from behind the large viewing window at the Sausage Link and purchase some to go next door at LeBleu’s Landing and enjoy a sit-down meal.

Mardi Gras Shoebox Floats

Check out the Mardi Gras Shoebox Floats

View the decorative Mardi Gras shoebox floats created by school groups and organizations that think outside of the box with creativity at the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Mardi Gras Shoebox Floats

Seriously, these kids are amazing!

They do a great job of tying in the local culture with each individual float.

children's parade in Lake Charles

Attend the Children’s Parade

If you ever get the opportunity to ride on a float during Mardi Gras in Lake Charles, I highly recommend doing it.

My first Mardi Gras parade experience was the sheer joy that came from the perspective of a parade float as we threw beads into the crowd.

children's parade in Lake Charles, LA

There is nothing better than seeing the smiles on kids’ faces as you pass by.  I loved making direct eye contact with someone in the crowd and then celebrating with them as they made an epic catch for a beaded necklace.

children's parade in Lake Charles,LA

If you ever get the opportunity to ride on a float during Mardi Gras I highly recommend doing it!

The Children’s Parade is the perfect parade to bring your whole family to. The music and atmosphere are very family-friendly.

children's parade in Lake Charles, LA

Arrive early and you can see the parade floats and their characters up close. Give yourself enough time to walk around and take in all of the detail on the parade floats.

I would recommend dressing in layers so that you can comfortably watch the whole entire parade.

Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point

Learn About the Local Culture at Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point

Perfect for photo ops, the Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point is a great stop for families, and best of all it’s FREE!

Adults and kids can learn more about Cajun culture with hands-on interactive displays that touch on local ecology, food, and music.

Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point

Make sure that you smell the aromas of the ingredients used in the Cajun/Creole cooking display.

The display seriously smells EXACTLY like the ingredient. You can also take home a few of the recipe cards if you are feeling extra adventurous in the kitchen.

Kids can pretend to be duck hunters with fun props. Groups can form a Cajun band and test out different sounds and styles of Southwest Louisiana music together.

Several of the displays also help visitors to learn more about the specific types of wildlife that they could see during their visit.

The staff on-site are a great source of information for additional ideas of what to do in the area.

crawfish boil

Where to Eat Local Cajun Food in Lake Charles

The food in Lake Charles is something that you will crave months and even years after your trip!

For my full list of dining and drinking suggestions read The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Lake Charles, Louisiana. 

There is also one other thing that I have to mention. They have Drive-Thru Frozen Daiquiri Shops!

This was a total surprise to me when I visited for the first time. I still have yet to visit one because I ran out of time. What makes it legal is the piece of tape over the top of the lid of the container.

You can find 5 recommendations for where to get one here. 

Iowa chicken run

Experience the Iowa Chicken Run

If you want an authentic local experience, you need to plan on joining the parade for the Iowa Chicken Run. 

The parade is less than 20 minutes from Lake Charles and worth the drive!

Iowa Chicken Run

What is the Iowa Chicken Run? 

The Iowa Chicken Run is a rural parade in Southwest Louisiana that goes west on Hwy 90 and stops at local businesses and neighborhoods along the way.

The parade floats have live bands and even porta-potties on board and then horses following in the rear.

musicians Iowa chicken run

When the captain blows his whistle at participating homes you need to be ready because things are about to get crazy!

Iowa Chicken Run

Next, the band will play and the crews will dance to zydeco music. Zydeco music is a genre of music in Southwest Louisiana with a fusion of fast tempo blues. It’s played by an accordion and a scrub board.

If the dancing skills are found satisfactory, the family will donate ingredients for the community gumbo and then a chicken is thrown into the air.

Iowa Chicken Run

That’s when things really get wild because the chicken can go anywhere which leads to a wild chase!

Sometimes the captain will even mix things up by throwing several chickens into the air at once. This gives the kids a better chance to try to catch one.

I discovered that I don’t have chicken catching skills, no matter how hard I tried.

The chicken run concludes with a zydeco dance. After the dance everyone comes back to share in the community gumbo at the KC Hall.

Miss Doris at Iowa Chicken Run

Don’t forget to try the gummy bears!

If you try one of Miss Doris’s tequila gummy bears, you’ll understand why she has such a big smile on her face!

Miss Doris at Iowa Chicken Run

Our group had to try one…in the name of research.

spiked gummy bears

The Iowa Chicken Run was unlike anything that I’ve ever seen before. It was such a privilege to witness and be a part of a tradition where the locals truly embraced us. They treated us like family with departing hugs and all.

I was truly sad when we had to leave.

Royal Gala Lake Charles

Attend the Royal Gala at Lake Charles Civic Center

Our group got to take a behind-the-scenes tour as the Krewe court royalty was preparing for their debut to the public.

There was such great energy and excitement because it’s basically a pre-party for the festivities to come.

Royal Gala in Lake Charles,LA

The Royal Gala in Lake Charles is the only event where the public has access to view all of the Mardi Gras royalty in their full costumes.

Royal Gala in Lake Charles,LA

You can watch over 60 krewes as they parade in their full costume at the only event of its kind in the state.

Royal Gala in Lake Charles,LA
Royal Gala in Lake Charles,LA

This is the only opportunity for the public to see the full costumes of all of the Mardi Gras royalty.

Krewe of Krewes Parade Lake Charles, LA

Collect Beaded Necklaces at the Krewe of Krewes Parade

Watch over 60 krewes as they party and parade by in themed floats filling the air with music.

They’ll also be tossing an assortment of colorful beaded necklaces, cups, doubloons (gold coins), and other goodies as they pass by in the finale of the Fat Tuesday celebration.

Krewe of Krewes Parade Lake Charles, LA

Don’t worry, this parade is still family-friendly.

No need to flash for beads. All you have to do is yell “Throw me somethin’ mister!” and hold out your hands.

Krewe of Krewes Parade Lake Charles, LA

You will have no problem gathering lots of beads.

I would suggest arriving near the parade route early so that you can enjoy the music, food, and fun pre-parade.

music at Southern Spice

We enjoyed watching the parade from the restaurant Southern Spice with a great location to watch the parade and delicious Cajun food and drinks.

L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles, LA

Where to Stay during Mardi Gras in Lake Charles

The resort decor at L’Auberge Casino Resort is inspired by Texas Hill country and the ambiance feels very cozy and welcoming from the moment you arrive.

There are 1,000 spacious rooms and suites on-site for guests. If you like to gamble you will find 1600 slots and 70 table games.

Normally I would not suggest a Casino Resort as a family-friendly option.  L’Auberge Casino Resort really changed my opinion.

I thought that seemed really odd when I saw a large group of teenagers there during my first visit. 

I later learned that the Casino floor is the only place in the resort where minors are not allowed. Families can still enjoy the eight different restaurants, shopping, and the pool with a lazy river together weather permitting.

There is also an adults-only area with a pool and hot tub. This is perfect for adults who want to be in a kid-free environment.

Compare Prices on Hotels and Airbnbs in Lake Charles for Mardi Gras

Lake Charles, LA

You Need to Experience Mardi Gras in Lake Charles!

The Southern Hospitality, local culture, and flavorful cuisine make Lake Charles a destination you’ll want to return to!

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