From Twelfth Night to Ash Wednesday, the state of Louisiana (and a few others) celebrates the greatest free party on Earth: Mardi Gras. While the rest of the country tries their best to stick to their resolutions, Louisianans feast on king cake, gumbo, and boiled crawfish before the chaste Lenten season begins. Despite the celebrations being statewide, however, Mardi Gras is a very different experience depending on what part of the boot you’re celebrating in. Over a hundred miles west of New Orleans is Acadiana: the home of boudin, and Mardi Gras in Cajun country is not quite like Mardi Gras anywhere else in the state or, indeed, the world.
Lafayette Mardi Gras: An Intimate Affair
One key difference between New Orleans and Acadiana’s Mardi Gras is in scale and scope. In New Orleans, it’s not uncommon for the parade routes to have thousands upon thousands of people and barely enough room to move once the parade gets underway. In Acadiana, however, parades are much more sparsely populated and therefore more family-friendly (and much more favorable to those who don’t care for dense crowds). Parades in Lafayette, as well as surrounding towns like Scott, Broussard, and others, tend to be quieter affairs than the big New Orleans parades (Endymion, Bacchus, etc) in general. As a college town, some of the parties in Lafayette can be a bit raucous, but still often pale in comparison to those in the heart of New Orleans or even those in Louisiana’s capitol, Baton Rouge.
Many facets of Cajun Mardi Gras are the same as those in other major Louisiana cities and towns: there are still plenty of parades, lots of feasting on king cake, boudin, and other local staples, and extravagant balls for the Mardi Gras krewes where a king and queen are crowned. In Acadiana, these things might have a little more local flair and flavor, but they’re just as genuine and just as good of a time.
Country Mardi Gras: Rooted in Tradition
Perhaps the most significant part of Mardi Gras in Acadiana, and what makes it so unique, is what happens in the country. In the towns surrounding Lafayette such as Mamou, there is a yearly celebration not quite like anything in the world. Mamou Mardi Gras, more commonly known as the Courir de Mardi Gras, is widely believed to be the “real Cajun Mardi Gras.”
Starting on the last Saturday of Mardi Gras, people travel from far and wide to visit the otherwise sparsely populated town of Mamou in Evangeline Parish. In addition to partying together and enjoying the local food, partygoers treat themselves to Cajun foods that are otherwise hard to find such as boudin balls, tasso, andouille sausage, crawfish, alligator and more. Finally, on Fat Tuesday, visitors and residents wear elaborate hand-made costumes and walk (or horseback ride) through the town, chasing chickens, eating gumbo, and having one last hurrah before the relatively chaste Lenten season begins the next day.
Eat Well on The Route
One of the beauties of Cajun cuisine is not only its infinite deliciousness, but also its wonderful convenience. Lots of local favorites are handheld treats that make keeping full on the parade route while still experiencing the local flavors easy. Of course, when the weather is cool, gumbo is very often the star of the show, but don’t discount all the Cajun classics that make Acadiana special:
Don’t forget to look the part, either! Locals know that Billy’s Boudin and Cracklins is the best around, and a little merch will make you fit right in! A tote and tumbler to keep your food hot and your drink cold wouldn’t go amiss either!
Stop on By
If you’re visiting Acadiana for Mardi Gras, there are a few must-stop places, but none more than one of our four locations! Breakfast or dinner, or even just for a snack on the road or a souvenir to take home, we’ve got all the genuine Cajun flavors you need to appreciate just how different Mardi Gras can be out here!
Can’t make it? Visit our online store to have all your favorites shipped straight to your door, anywhere in the US! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for news and special offers, too. See you at the Mardi Gras!