The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association (“GSW”) has organized safe and family friendly Mardi Gras parades in Lafayette for 90 years, since 1934. Today over 20 Krewes are recognized under the GSW “umbrella.” The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association serves as a liaison between agencies of the Lafayette Consolidated Government, the Lafayette Sheriff’s Department, and other public bodies and all Krewes that are under the GSLMGA umbrella in coordinating their needs.
The Association not only coordinates and stages the parades, but presents the City Ball on Mardi Gras night. The City Ball is open to the public with no admission fee. The Association also produces and coordinates Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette at Cajun Field with carnival rides and games, a wide variety of live music, great Cajun food. The parades roll right through the festival site so everyone can enjoy all Mardi Gras has to offer at one convenient location.
The Greater Southwest Louisiana
Mardi Gras Association was established to foster, promote
and coordinate Lafayette’s Mardi Gras celebration. The
Association is not a Krewe, but is a board of volunteers who produce
and coordinate the City Ball and
Parades, including securing
floats, hiring marching bands, purchasing insurance, and working
with area governmental agencies. The Association also produces the “Le
Festival de Mardi Gras a’ Lafayette” at Cajun Field.
The costs of Mardi Gras – the biggest free party in Lafayette - are borne by the various Krewes and their members, and by the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association. The festival is for 5 days starting Friday evening thru to Tuesday.
2025 Le Festival de Mardi Gras, Presented By
The Association is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of thirty men and women representing various civic organizations and a number of service minded individuals from the community who have a common interest - “MARDI GRAS”.
The association also produces and coordinates Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette at Cajun Field with carnival rides and games, a wide variety of live music, great Cajun food. The parades come right through the festival site so everyone can enjoy all Mardi Gras has to offer at one convenient location.
The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association serves as a liaison between agencies of the Lafayette Consolidated Government, the Lafayette Sheriff’s Department, and other public bodies and all Krewes that are under the GSW umbrella in coordinating their needs.
Quinn Salmon
(337) 298-3505
Chairman of Parades
Ryan LeBlanc
(337) 703-6838
Chairman of
Independent Parade-Mardi Gras Day
William Kaufman
(225) 939-8124
Chairman of Friday Kick off Parade
The Greater Southwest
Louisiana Mardi Gras Association is a volunteer organization
that seeks to promote and facilitate a safe and
family-friendly Mardi Gras in Lafayette. Among other roles,
GSW serves as a liaison between agencies of the Lafayette
Consolidated Government, Lafayette Police Department, the
Lafayette Sheriff’s Office, and other public bodies and all
Krewes that are under the GSW umbrella in coordinating their
needs.
GSW also produces and coordinates Le Festival
de Mardi Gras a Lafayette at Cajun Field with carnival rides
and games, a wide variety of live music, great Cajun food.
The parades come right through the festival site so everyone
can enjoy all Mardi Gras has to offer at one convenient
location.
Greater Southwest is excited to announce the return of Le
Festival de Mardi Gras á Lafayette at Cajun Field! The
Festival will run from Friday, February 28th through
March 04th, 2025. Le Festival will feature a carnival
with the newest, most exciting rides along with a new, more
convenient, and spacious layout. This year's entertainment
will feature Wayne Toups, The Chee- Weez, Clay
Cormier, Lil’ Nate, The Good Dudes, Yacht-Sea, Dustin
Sonnier and More!
Finally, Greater Southwest would like to thank the following
sponsors and corporate partners for their tremendous
support: Service
Chevrolet, J&J Exterminating, Party Central/Event
Solutions, LLC, Primeaux
RV, Hancock Whitney, The Coteau Grove Band, Acadian Total Security.
In order to reserve a spot for the best and safest RV location for enjoying both the parades and the festival entertainment, please visit gomardigras.com and scroll down to RV Registration. You will find all of the info you need there, including spot availability and prices. Should you have any issues, feel free to contact Chris Foreman (mardigrasfestival@gmail.com; or 337-280-0673).
Finally, if you wish to help fund our efforts to make this year's Mardi Gras the best ever, you can donate ONLINE at our website: www.gomardigras.com ~ scroll down to the bottom, and click on the Yellow Donations link to input your dollar amount, and pay with PayPal or your debit/credit card. We also accept personal/business checks by mail to PO Box 51347, Lafayette, LA 70505. Remember to let us know how to list your name(s) on the Sponsor Page in the official Mardi Gras Program and/or on other advertising items.
March 4, 2025
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February 17, 2037
MardiGrasFestival@gmail.com