St. Landry Parish overflowing with Mardi Gras fun

    Looking for Mardi Gras fun this weekend? St. Landry Parish has the traditional Mardi Gras run, parades, street dances, jam sessions, soul queen Irma Thomas, a zydeco trail ride and old-time pig roasts. That’s just the short list.

Traditional Courir de Mardi Gas in Eunice

    St. Landry Parish is bursting with Mardi Gras excitement and activities that are almost too numerous to list. Here’s an hourly breakdown of the fun that awaits.

Friday, Feb. 17

    7:30 p.m., Eunice – Street dance with Kyle Huval and Friends; Jamie Berzas and Cajun Tradition at Nick’s on 2nd; Paul Daigle and Jason Frey at Lakeview Park
    9 p.m., Leonville – 2^nd Annual L’Argent Trailride and Chicken Run at IFBS Lodge with Leon Chavis and Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers

Saturday, Feb. 18

    2 p.m., Washington – Mardi Gras parade on North Main Street

    2:30 p.m., Eunice – Street dance with Fred Charlie and the Acadiana Cajuns

    3 p.m., Eunice – Music program at the Jean Lafayette Prairie Acadian Culture Center

    8 p.m., Leonville – 2^nd Annual L’Argent Trailride and Chicken Run with Brian Jack, J. Paul and the Zydeco Nubreedz at IFBS Lodge

    6 p.m., Eunice – Rendez-vous des Cajuns radio/TV show with Ryan Brunet et les Malfecteurs, Basile Mardi Gras Association and Georgie Manuel explaining rural Mardi Gras traditions

    7 p.m., Lebeau – Lebeau/Palmetto Mardi Gras Ball with Leon Chavis and the Zydeco Flames at Church Hall

    8 p.m., Eunice – Street dance with Les Bassettes

    8 p.m., Eunice – Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys at Nick’s on 2^nd

    8:30 p.m., Eunice – Barn dance with swamp pop legends Warren Storm, Willie Tee and Cypress at Lakeview Park

   9 p.m., Opelousas – Concert with Irma Thomas at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino

Lil Nathan

   9:30 p.m., Opelousas – Traditional Mardi Gras dance with Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys at Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki

Sunday, Feb. 19

    8 a.m., Eunice – L’anse Meg Courir de Mardi Gras at Lakeview Park

    9 a.m., Eunice – Children’s Mardi Gras run leaves Recreation Complex, 461 Sittig Road

    10 a.m., Eunice – Old-time boucherie at South 2^nd Street and Park Ave.

    11:30 a.m., Eunice – Street dance with Da Classics with Drew Dogay and Charlo at S. 2^nd St. stage

    11:30 a.m., Eunice – Street dance with Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners  at S. 2^nd St. and Walnut stage

    1 p.m., Lebeau – Mardi Gras parade and chicken run with Leon Chavis at Church Hall

    3 p.m., Eunice – Children’s Mardi Gras run returns downtown

    3:30 p.m., Eunice – Kyle Huval and Friends at Nick’s on 2^nd

    3:30 p.m., Leonville – 2^nd Annual L’Argent Trailride and Chicken Run with Lil Wayne, Cupid, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas and Lil Nate at IFBS Lodge

    8 p.m., Eunice – Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys at Lakeview Park

Monday, Feb. 20

    Noon, Eunice – Dr. Barry Ancelet’s presentation on the history of rural Mardi Gras at Jean Lafitte Center

    Noon, Opelousas – Lundi Gras at Le Vieux Village with old-time boucherie, cooking demonstrations, costume contest, historic village tours

    1 p.m., Eunice – Council on Aging Mardi Gras dance with Big J and Zydeco Dog Pound at Northwest Center

    5:30 p.m., Eunice – Jam session at South 2^nd St. and Walnut

    6 p.m., Opelousas – Lundi Gras at Le Vieux Village with Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie

    8 p.m., Eunice – Street dance with Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys

    8 p.m., Eunice – Don Fontenot at Nick’s on 2^nd

    9 p.m., Eunice – Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys at Nick’s on 2^nd

    9 p.m., Opelousas – The Original Zyde-Gras with Keith Frank and Cupid, Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino

Tuesday, Feb. 21

    8 a.m., Eunice – Courir de Mardi Gras leaves Northwest Center

    10 a.m., Eunice – Acadien with Ryan Simon on Park Ave. stage

    11 a.m., Eunice – Homer LeJeune and Cajun Kings on 2^nd and Walnut stage

    11 a.m., Eunice – Donnie Broussard at Nick’s on 2^nd

    11 a.m., Opelousas – Krewe of Frank’s Parade

    12:45 p.m., Eunice – Paul Daigle and Cajun Gold on Park Ave. stage

    2:45 p.m., Eunice – Truck parade and Courir de Mardi Gras returns

    4 p.m., Eunice – Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys on Park Ave. stage

    6 p.m., Eunice – Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie at Nick’s on 2^nd

    In other events, Masks & Mayhem – The Courir de Mardi Gras Artwork of Herb Roe remains on display at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, 978 Kennerson Road in Opelousas.  Roe’s exhibit features oil paintings and graphite drawings of traditional Mardi Gras runs.

    Renowned zydeco and Cajun musician Horace Trahan concludes the Music of Acadiana Series at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 at Nunu’s, 1510 Highway 93, in Arnaudville. The event starts with an open jam session, followed by an interview with Trahan and performance.

    For more information on parish events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com.  Updates are available on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish. Videos are online at www.youtube.com/StLandryParish.