Subscribe to get notified about new events!

Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana Inc

Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana Inc celebrates and promotes the cultural heritage of the region through vibrant festivals, community events, and artistic expressions, fostering unity and joy while preserving local traditions.

2027 Mardi Gras of SWLA Teen, Ms, Jr, & Miss Entry

2027 MGSWLA Queens Pageant - Tiny, Petite, Little, & Deb Entry

Complete this Parade Draw Song form to submit your group&rsquo;s song choice for the Mardi Gras parade. 🎭🎶 Share the title, artist, and any key notes so we can line up music that keeps the route fun, family‑friendly, and in step with Southwest Louisiana&rsquo;s Mardi Gras traditions. Your details help us coordinate smoothly and make sure every krewe, youth group, and family entry has their moment to shine along the parade route.

Parade Draw Song

Become the 2027 MGSWLA Queens Title Sponsor 👑🎭 and stand alongside families, krewes, and courts as we celebrate the traditions of Mardi Gras in Southwest Louisiana. Your sponsorship helps create a memorable Queens Pageant experience for local youth, supports pageant production costs, and keeps this community tradition accessible. Complete this form to confirm your Title Sponsorship and be recognized as a key partner in preserving and sharing our Mardi Gras heritage.

2027 MGSWLA Queens Title Sponsorship

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1782271812/wysiwyg/ouacgebdlhfahojut7lg.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">Celebrate the spirit of Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras at the 2026 Queens Pageant Ball 🎭💜 Join us as our Mardi Gras SWLA queens take the spotlight, honoring the traditions and pageantry that bring our community together. Your registration helps support family-friendly events that keep our local Mardi Gras heritage thriving. Complete this form to reserve your place at the ball and be part of this year&rsquo;s royal celebration.

Mardi Gras SWLA Queens Pageant Ball 2026

Queens General Item Sales

<div fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;">&nbsp;VENDOR SPACE - 2nd Annual Bingo Fundraiser</div><div fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;">Saturday, July 11, 2026</div><div fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;">Set Up for 12:00 pm (Doors Open)</div><div fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;">The event is from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm</div>

VENDOR SPACE - 2nd annual Bingo Fundraiser

Mardi Gras SWLA Queens Pageant 2nd Annual Bingo

<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;">Merchants Parade Entry Fee: $200.00 per entry.</li><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;">Line up begins @ 3pm at the South end of Bord Du Lac Drive. Must be ready to roll by 5:30 pm.</li><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;">Enter and participate at your own risk. MGSW is not responsible for any damage or injury.</li><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;">All floats must have a 100% sober driver and Float Lieutenant, 21 years of age or older. Float Lieutenants must ride directly behind the drive on the pulled vessel. They must wear orange vests and possess the emergency sign. No exceptions.</li><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;">Parade chair reserves the right to remove and/or deny any entry deemed inappropriate.</li><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;">No refunds /MGSW will try to roll rain or shine.</li><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.5;">No walking units are allowed in this parade.</li></ul>

2026 Merchants Parade

Good Morning Everyone,It&rsquo;s that time of year again&mdash;Mardi Gras!&nbsp;Below is all the information for this year&rsquo;s schedule and food booth operations.Please be aware that&nbsp;MGSWLA does&nbsp;not&nbsp;guarantee power or water receptacles for vendors.&nbsp;The vendor fee covers&nbsp;entry only. To help us plan as effectively as possible, we still ask that you complete the required power and water questions on the&nbsp;Zeffy Registration&nbsp;link so we can attempt to accommodate where possible.For the 2026 season,&nbsp;all payments must be made through Zeffy only&mdash;NO CASH will be accepted. Setup InformationSet-up days:Thursday, Feb 12 &ndash; Friday, Feb 13, 2026 (before 3:00 PM)All vendors must be in place by&nbsp;3:00 PM on Friday. Anyone not set up by that time will not be allowed to enter the grounds due to parade preparations.Event ScheduleFriday, Feb 13, 2026<ul fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Merchants Parade &ndash; 7:00 PM</li></ul>Saturday, Feb 14, 2026<ul fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">No parades scheduled</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Civic Center indoor events will take place throughout the day</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Vendors may open at their discretion</li></ul>Sunday, Feb 15, 2026 &ndash; Children&rsquo;s Day<ul fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Parade line-up begins at&nbsp;8:00 AM</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Event Center activities from&nbsp;10:00 AM &ndash; 1:00 PM</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">This is historically a&nbsp;high-traffic food day&nbsp;due to large family attendance</li></ul>Monday, Feb 16, 2026 &ndash; Royal Gala<ul fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Inside the Civic Center from&nbsp;5:00 PM &ndash; Midnight</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Vendors may open if they choose</li></ul>Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 &ndash; FAT TUESDAY<ul fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Parades and crowds throughout the day</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lakeshore Drive&nbsp;(behind the Event Center) closed from&nbsp;9:00 AM &ndash; 9:00 PM</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Please be ready&mdash;this is our largest day of the season</li></ul>Thank you, Cliff Bailey

2026 Food Vendors

<span fr-original-style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: roboto-slab, serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: roboto-slab, serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important; box-sizing: inherit;">The Mardi Gras Royal Gala will take place on Monday, February 16, 2026 at 7 p.m. at the Lake Charles Event Center&#39;s Coliseum. There will be a lavish promenade of krewes&rsquo; royalty in extravagant, glittering costumes before thousands of residents and visitors. Kings and queens, royal dukes and duchesses, captains, courtesans, and jesters in museum-quality costumes will be in full display, complete with music and dancing for everyone at the second largest Mardi Gras in Louisiana.&nbsp;

2026 Royal Gala

To reserve your spot for this year&rsquo;s event, please return by February 9, 2026.<ul fr-original-style="list-style-type: undefined;margin-left:0in;" style="list-style-type: undefined; margin-left: 0in; box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Completed copy of the vendor contract&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Payment on Zeffy&nbsp;</li></ul>Art/Merchandise vendors $25 plus a gift Certificate from your booth for a Raffle prize valued at $25 for a 12X12 area. &nbsp;Prize drawing will announce one vendor, per one drawing. We have 3 small trailer-only spaces $50 plus the $25.00 gift from your booth, 10&rsquo; X 20&rsquo;. First paid requested bases by signed and submitted application <ol fr-original-style="list-style-type: decimal;margin-left:35px;" style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 35px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">No motor vehicles or trailers will be allowed to park behind any booth. After unloading park vehicle in nearby parking lots. Load in: 6:00am &ndash; 7:30am; gates open to the public at 9:00 am.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Space is limited and will be assigned by event staff.&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">You must provide your own table, patio tent or umbrella for shade, and additional tables/chairs. &nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Items to be sold by vendors must be approved by the Gumbo cook-off chair committee.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Vendor booths must be open for business by 9:00 am on Feb. 14, 2026.&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Vendor booths may not be dismantled before 2:30 pm.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">In case of inclement weather &ldquo;Rain or Shine&rdquo; event.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">No Food vendors allowed at the cook-off. We have a separate area for 5 days for food vendors.&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">THE ITEMS REQUESTED TO BE SOLD ARE AS FOLLOWS:&nbsp;</li></ol>______________________________________________________________________________&nbsp;______________________________________________________________________________

2026 Gumbo Arts Vendors

Gather your gumbo pots as Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana, Inc. invites you to join us for the 29th annual World-Famous Mardi Gras Gumbo Cook-Off to be held Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Lake Charles Event Center Amphitheater.The Cook-Off set-up begins at 6:00a.m., cooking will begin at 7:30 a.m. sharp and judging will begin at 11:00 a.m. The entry fee is $125.00 per team per category with a maximum of four people per team. We are excited to host the 29th gumbo cook-off on the Amphitheatre grounds in true Margi Gras festival style. We are counting on our Krewes to come out and show their Krewe spiritcontinuing our tradition to select &ldquo;Best Decorated Booth and Spirit&rdquo; in the krewe and non-krewe divisions, while competing for the renowned 2026 Spirit Stick. Bring your own tables, tent 10&rdquo;x10&rdquo; size or smaller per cook-off category. There will be three places awarded in each category of Cook-Off. Prizes 1st Place: $150.00 and a trophy2nd Place: $100.00 and a trophy3rd Place: $50.00 and a trophy $10.00 presale admission charge per person on Zeffy.com ticket sales, children 5 and under are free. Day of events is $15.00 per person. QR code will be posted when registration opens.Encourage your Krewe members to attend and non-krewe friends to show off their Mardi Gras spirit with you. This is a public event with true Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras flair, we will have a band and DJ, things for the kids, arts and craft booths and more, so get your fans there early! We&rsquo;ll have split the pot ticket $1.00, and door prize raffle tickets for $1.00.If your Krewe or business would like to volunteer or donate a door prize, we would love to hear from you. For more information, please contact the event chairman:Kristi Folse(337)- 425-8623 ext. 2Tammy Ryan (337) 263-0226<a data-fr-linked="true" fr-original-style="" href="mailto:mgswlagumbocookoff@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">mgswlagumbocookoff@gmail.com</a>

29th Annual Mardi Gras Gumbo Cook-Off 2026  Team Entry

<p fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;" style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;">The 2026 Mardi Gras Gumbo Cookoff will occur on February 14th at the Lake Charles Event Center Ampi-theater. After the cooking and judging takes place, the public can taste from various pots of chicken and sausage, seafood or wild game gumbo in a hot contest on Mardi Gras weekend!<p fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;" style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;">Amateur and professional teams will stir up hundreds of gallons of rich, spicy gumbo and serve it at the Cajun Extravaganza and Gumbo Cook-off, which is a Mardi Gras tradition among krewes, professionals and amateurs in Southwest Louisiana. The event is a must-be-there mix of award-winning food, floor-stomping music, and the down-home spirit of Mardi Gras.<p fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;" style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;">Gumbo contestants begin cooking at 7:30 a.m., and judging is at 11:30 a.m., with gumbo served immediately afterward until 1:30 p.m. In addition to scrumptious food, there will be festive DJ music.<p fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;" style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;"> <p fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;" style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;">KIDS 5 and Under are free<p fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;" style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;"><strong fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;font-weight:bolder;" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: currentcolor; font-weight: bolder;">COOKOFF WILL BE HELD IN THE LAKE CHARLES EVENT CENTER AMPHITHEATER

Mardi Gras Gumbo Cook off 2026

<span fr-original-style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Placeholder Font", "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;' style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Placeholder Font", "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important; box-sizing: inherit;'>LAFF convention registration...not hotel. (Hotel fees have not come out yet) <span fr-original-style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Placeholder Font", "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;' style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Placeholder Font", "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important; box-sizing: inherit;'>&nbsp;$170 for Thursday-Sunday (Feb. 6-9 2025 @ Crowne Plaza Baton Rouge, LA) <span fr-original-style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Placeholder Font", "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;' style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Placeholder Font", "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important; box-sizing: inherit;'>&nbsp;Hard deadline for the $170, Saturday, November 2nd, 2025, at 11:59pm.&nbsp;<span fr-original-style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Placeholder Font", "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;' style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Placeholder Font", "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important; box-sizing: inherit;'>No packets fee will be accepted after that date and time. HARD DEADLINE.

"A LAFF For All Seasons" LAFF 2026 Convention Packets

<span fr-original-style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;' id="isPasted" style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important; box-sizing: inherit;'>Twelfth Night - 12 days after Christmas is the legendary beginning of the Mardi Gras season prior to. Lent. Join us in this tradition, which will be kicking off a little early this year! Please help us celebrate Mardi Gras&rsquo; first event as royalty of last year in their grand costumes, give their symbolic goodbyes! Thousands will turn out to see the grand fanfare of costumes and greet the new carnival season. There will be a lively mini parade featuring members of the local krewes under the direction of Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana. Doors open at 5 PM and the event begins at 6 PM. More details to come soon!<span fr-original-style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;' style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important; box-sizing: inherit;'>&nbsp;

2026 12th Night

Teen/Junior/MS/MISS Pageant Entry November 2025

Tiny thru Deb Nov 2025 Pageant Entry

Show your Mardi Gras spirit with an official MGSWLA T‑shirt 🎭 Every shirt helps us keep local parades, pageants, and family events going strong for youth and families across Southwest Louisiana. Your purchase supports our work to celebrate the traditions, music, and color of Mardi Gras right here at home. Wear your shirt to parades, balls, and community events 🎺 and help share the culture we&rsquo;re proud to pass on.

Show your Mardi Gras spirit with an official MGSWLA T‑shirt 🎭 Every shirt helps us keep local parades, pageants, and family events going strong for youth and families across Southwest Louisiana.Your purchase supports our work to celebrate the traditions, music, and color of Mardi Gras right here at home. Wear your shirt to parades, balls, and community events 🎺 and help share the culture we’re proud to pass on.

T shirts

Join us for the MGSWLA Queens Pageant!Experience the vibrant spirit of Mardi Gras in Southwest Louisiana by attending this annual celebration. Secure your guest tickets and watch young participants shine as they embrace rich local traditions in categories like Tiny and Deb Miss Mardi Gras.Your presence not only supports these budding queens but also our mission to celebrate and preserve Mardi Gras&#39;s cultural heritage. Let&#39;s come together in community and festivity!

MGSWLA Queens Pageant Guest Tickets 2026

Join us for the MGSWLA Queens Pageant!Experience the vibrant spirit of Mardi Gras in Southwest Louisiana by attending this annual celebration. Secure your guest tickets and watch young participants shine as they embrace rich local traditions in categories like Tiny and Deb Miss Mardi Gras.Your presence not only supports these budding queens but also our mission to celebrate and preserve Mardi Gras&#39;s cultural heritage. Let&#39;s come together in community and festivity!

MGSWLA Queens Pageant Guest Tickets

<span fr-original-style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;' id="isPasted" style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important; box-sizing: inherit;'>Twelfth Night - 12 days after Christmas is the legendary beginning of the Mardi Gras season prior to. Lent. Join us in this tradition, which will be kicking off a little early this year! Please help us celebrate Mardi Gras&rsquo; first event as royalty of last year in their grand costumes, give their symbolic goodbyes! Thousands will turn out to see the grand fanfare of costumes and greet the new carnival season. There will be a lively mini parade featuring members of the local krewes under the direction of Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana. Doors open at 4:30 PM and the event begins at 6 PM. More details to come soon!<span fr-original-style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;' style='color: rgb(8, 8, 9); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important; box-sizing: inherit;'>&nbsp;

2027 12th Night Tickets

To reserve your spot for this year&rsquo;s event, please return by January 23, 2026.<ul fr-original-style="list-style-type: undefined;margin-left:0in;" style="list-style-type: undefined; margin-left: 0in; box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Completed copy of the vendor contract&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Payment on Zeffy&nbsp;</li></ul>Art/Merchandise vendors $25 plus a gift Certificate from your booth for a Raffle prize valued at $25 for a 12X12 area. &nbsp;Prize drawing will announce one vendor, per one drawing. We have 3 small trailer-only spaces $50 plus the $25.00 gift from your booth, 10&rsquo; X 20&rsquo;. First paid requested bases by signed and submitted application <ol fr-original-style="list-style-type: decimal;margin-left:35px;" style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 35px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">No motor vehicles or trailers will be allowed to park behind any booth. After unloading park vehicle in nearby parking lots. Load in: 6:00am &ndash; 7:30am; gates open to the public at 9:00 am.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Space is limited and will be assigned by event staff.&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">You must provide your own table, patio tent or umbrella for shade, and additional tables/chairs. &nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Items to be sold by vendors must be approved by the Gumbo cook-off chair committee.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Vendor booths must be open for business by 9:00 am on Feb. 6, 2027.&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Vendor booths may not be dismantled before 2:30 pm.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">In case of inclement weather &ldquo;Rain or Shine&rdquo; event.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">No Food vendors allowed at the cook-off. We have a separate area for 5 days for food vendors.&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">THE ITEMS REQUESTED TO BE SOLD ARE AS FOLLOWS:&nbsp;</li></ol>______________________________________________________________________________&nbsp;______________________________________________________________________________

2027 Gumbo Arts Vendors

<p fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;" style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;">The 2027 Mardi Gras Gumbo Cookoff will occur on February 6th at the Lake Charles Event Center Amphitheater. After the cooking and judging takes place, the public can taste from various pots of chicken and sausage, seafood or wild game gumbo in a hot contest on Mardi Gras weekend!<p fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;" style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;">Amateur and professional teams will stir up hundreds of gallons of rich, spicy gumbo and serve it at the Cajun Extravaganza and Gumbo Cook-off, which is a Mardi Gras tradition among krewes, professionals and amateurs in Southwest Louisiana. The event is a must-be-there mix of award-winning food, floor-stomping music, and the down-home spirit of Mardi Gras.<p fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;" style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;">Gumbo contestants begin cooking at 7:30 a.m., and judging is at 11:30 a.m., with gumbo served immediately afterward until 1:30 p.m. In addition to scrumptious food, there will be festive DJ music.<p fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;" style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;"> <p fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;" style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;">KIDS 5 and Under are free<p fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;" style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;margin:0px;font-family:roboto-slab, serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;padding:12px 0px 6px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;line-height:1.5;"><strong fr-original-style="box-sizing:border-box;border-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-color:currentcolor;font-weight:bolder;" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: currentcolor; font-weight: bolder;">COOKOFF WILL BE HELD IN THE LAKE CHARLES EVENT CENTER AMPHITHEATER

Mardi Gras Gumbo Cook off 2027

Gather your gumbo pots as Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana, Inc. invites you to join us for the 30th annual World-Famous Mardi Gras Gumbo Cook-Off to be held Saturday, February 6, 2027, at the Lake Charles Event Center Amphitheater.The Cook-Off set-up begins at 6:00a.m., cooking will begin at 7:30 a.m. sharp and judging will begin at 11:00 a.m. The entry fee is $125.00 per team per category with a maximum of four people per team. We are excited to host the 30th gumbo cook-off on the Amphitheatre grounds in true Margi Gras festival style. We are counting on our Krewes to come out and show their Krewe spiritcontinuing our tradition to select &ldquo;Best Decorated Booth and Spirit&rdquo; in the krewe and non-krewe divisions, while competing for the renowned 2027 Spirit Stick. Bring your own tables, tent 10&rdquo;x10&rdquo; size or smaller per cook-off category. There will be three places awarded in each category of Cook-Off. Prizes 1st Place: $150.00 and a trophy2nd Place: $100.00 and a trophy3rd Place: $50.00 and a trophy $10.00 presale admission charge per person on Zeffy.com ticket sales; children 5 and under are free.&nbsp;Day-of-event fee is $15.00 per person. QR code will be posted when registration opens.Encourage your Krewe members to attend and non-Krewe friends to show off their Mardi Gras spirit with you. This is a public event with true Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras flair, we will have a band and DJ, things for the kids, arts and craft booths and more, so get your fans there early! We&rsquo;ll have split-the-pot tickets for $1.00 and door prize raffle tickets for $1.00.If your Krewe or business would like to volunteer or donate a door prize, we would love to hear from you. For more information, please contact the event chairman:Kristi Folse(337)- 425-8623 ext. 2Tammy Ryan (337) 263-0226<a data-fr-linked="true" fr-original-style="" href="mailto:mgswlagumbocookoff@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">mgswlagumbocookoff@gmail.com</a>

Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana Inc

Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana Inc

Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana Inc

Upcoming events

Events

Get your tickets

MGSWLA Queens Pageant Guest Tickets 2026

Get your tickets

MGSWLA Queens Pageant Guest Tickets

Get your tickets

2027 12th Night Tickets

Learn more

2027 Gumbo Arts Vendors

Get your tickets

Mardi Gras Gumbo Cook off 2027

Get your tickets

30th Annual Mardi Gras Gumbo Cook-Off 2027 Team Entry

More ways to support us

Donate now

T shirts

Powered by

.css-d1iyq7 a{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-d1iyq7 a:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:hsl(240, 0%, 100%);}Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana Inc

Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana Inc

Upcoming events

Events

Get your tickets

MGSWLA Queens Pageant Guest Tickets 2026

Get your tickets

MGSWLA Queens Pageant Guest Tickets

Get your tickets

2027 12th Night Tickets

Learn more

2027 Gumbo Arts Vendors

Get your tickets

Mardi Gras Gumbo Cook off 2027

Get your tickets

30th Annual Mardi Gras Gumbo Cook-Off 2027 Team Entry

More ways to support us

Donate now

T shirts

Powered by

Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana Inc