While New Orleans may receive all the attention regarding Mardi Gras, plenty of parades and celebrations occur throughout the state that are just as vibrant, funky and unforgettable as the towns and cities they happen to be in.
Get your Mardi Gras on at any of these five destinations.
Lake Charles
Louisiana's second-largest Mardi Gras fete takes place in the southwest part of the state. Lake Charles and the surrounding area host their fair share of parades, some with elaborate floats and all with creative costumes.
And that's just the beginning of the fun.
There's also a gumbo cook-off (Mar. 1), a Second Line stroll (Mar. 4), and more, including a chicken run (yes, you read that correctly; Mar. 4) in nearby Iowa.
Eat Up: Perfect as a meal or snack, boudin (pronounced "boo-dan") is a Cajun/Creole sausage made with cooked rice, pork, liver, onions and seasonings. The Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail highlights local food establishments, specialty meat shops, and grocery stores that offer the delicacy. Be sure to try the cracklins with a side of Steens for dipping.
Lafayette
Experience the "greatest free party on earth" in Lafayette. The city hosts various parades and events like the Krewe de Canailles Walking Parade (Feb. 21), Courir de Mardi Gras (Feb. 23) at Vermilionville and the Le Festival de Mardi Gras à Lafayette (Feb. 28; Mar.1 -4), which features carnival rides, live music, and much more.
The "Hub City" also allows you to visit Acadiana's surrounding communities to experience parades and festivities from Iberia Parish (be sure to check out New Iberia's King Cake trail) to Evangeline Parish.
Immerse Yourself: From Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve-Acadian Cultural Center to Cajun Food Tours, there are numerous ways to learn about and engage in Cajun ways and culture. You can even learn the Cajun two-step, if you dare.
Baton Rouge
The capital city has all the ingredients for a good party: colorful floats, King Cake-inspired treats, and lots of local quirky flair. How quirky, you might ask. Simple answer: Some parades include lawnmowers, flamingoes and Dimple the golf ball.
Through Fat Tuesday, family-friendly celebrations include the all-female Krewe of Artemis nighttime parade (Feb. 21), Mid City Gras (Feb. 23) with a Krewe of Squirrels and a lawnmower brigade, and the Krewe of Shenandoah (Mar. 3), featuring Dimple the golf ball.
Don't forget about nearby parades, like Donaldsonville's Mardi Gras Parade (Feb. 16) and the Krewe of Comogo (Mar. 2) in Plaquemine.
Height Matters: DYK Louisiana is home to the tallest state capitol building in the country.
Commissioned by the extremely colorful governor Huey P. Long, the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge was completed in 1932 and stands 450 feet high with 34 floors, with an observation deck on the 27th floor.
Long was assassinated here in 1935 and is buried on the grounds.
Admission is free.
Monroe-West Monroe, La.
Mardi Gras festivities in the twin cities of Monroe and West Monroe take place over two separate weekends. If you missed the first parade, Krewe de Riviere (Feb. 8), don't worry—the following Saturday (Feb. 15) is filled with joie de vivre.
The day kicks off with a Children's Mardi Gras Parade, with creative floats and costumes, at Pecanland Mall, and for spectators, there are throws of beads and candy. In the afternoon, there's the Krewe of Paws Pet Parade, which doesn't discriminate regarding a man's or a woman's best friend(s). Conclude the evening with the Krewe of Janus Parade and get ready to grab those beads, cups and more.
DYK: Delta Airlines may be based in Atlanta, but its beginnings can be traced back to Monroe.
Learn how what began as a crop dusting business grew into an international powerhouse inside Chennault Aviation & Military Museum.
Northshore/St. Tammany Parish
It's hard to out-parade the Northshore/St. Tammany Parish, with their 27 parades in nine towns, rolling through March 15.
Among those include the Krewe of Eve (Feb. 21) in Mandeville, and be on the lookout for their prized throws, LED light-up throws and glittered apples. And speaking of sweet throws, the Krewe of Olympia Parade (Feb. 22), celebrating 60 years in Covington, is a lightning bolt.
There are boat parades like the Krewe of Bilge (Feb. 15) in Eden Isles and the Krewe of Tchefuncte (Feb. 21) in Madisonville. Abita Springs hosts a Push Mow Parade (Feb. 23).
Pets are also part of the Mardi Gras celebration with Krewe de Paws (Feb. 22) in Olde Towne Slidell and the Mardi Paws Parade (Mar. 9).
Let's Hike (or Bike): Check out the Tammany Trace, the former Illinois Central Railroad corridor. The 31-mile asphalted trail extends from downtown Covington through Abita Springs, Mandeville and Lacombe and ends in Slidell, with plenty of points of interest along the way. There's also an equestrian trail that parallels the Trace.
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