Alexandria, Louisiana


Alexandria Mardi Gras 2025

Mardi Gras in Louisiana

Mardi Gras is celebrated in cities and towns all around Louisiana, from north to south, east to west. Whether you plan to celebrate Fat Tuesday in New Orleans, Lafayette, or Alexandria, Louisiana has a parade, concert, festival and other fun events for you!

Mardi Gras Parade in Alexandria, LouisianaAlexandria, Louisiana Mardi Gras Parade
(Photo courtesy of Alexandria Mardi Gras Association)

This magnificent, costumed, beaded and feathered carnival is rich with tradition and is all about having a good time! The traditional Mardi Gras colors, dating back to 1892, are purple (justice), green (faith) and gold (power).

Is Mardi Gras celebrated in Alexandria?

The Alexandria Mardi Gras Association was begun in 1994 by a consortium of local business leaders, the Alexandria-Pineville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mardi Gras enthusiasts and the Krewes existing at that time.

The Mardi Gras du Couer de la Louisianne (Mardi Gras in the Heart of Louisiana) spirit has really taken hold of Central Louisiana since the first parade was held on Sunday, February 13, 1994. Alexandria’s Mardi Gras has grown from having a total of ten floats with participation of four Mardi Gras Krewes that first year, to presently having twenty-three floats and Krewes. The Krewe Parade attendance is estimated at 150,000 and the Children’s Parade attendance is estimated at 45,000.

Today, there is an ever-growing list of Mardi Gras Krewes that are active in the Alexandria area.

When is the next Mardi Gras in Alexandria?

Mardi Gras is always on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The day before Mardi Gras is known as Shrove Monday or Lundi Gras. Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, will next be celebrated in Alexandria, Louisiana on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Parades will begin before that date.

See you at one of the Alexandria Mardi Gras Parades in 2025!

For the most current information, schedules and events, we recommend a visit to

the website of the Alexandria Mardi Gras Association

 

Throw me something mister!

Beads in the air at Mardi Gras ... these cheap strings of multi-colored beads have been thrown from floats to eager parade-goers for decades. Also thrown from floats are the coin-like plastic or wooden "doubloons".

Throw me something mister ... at a Mardi Gras parade in Alexandria Louisiana!

What is the traditional Mardi Gras King Cake?

Long a Mardi Gras tradition, the King Cake is made from a rich dough and filled with cream cheese, cinnamon, chocolate, or other goodies. It is topped with a glaze and sprinkles, in the Mardi Gras colors or gold, green, and purple.

There is traditionally a small baby inside the cake ... whoever gets the baby in their piece of the King Cake gets the honor of bringing the next cake to the party or office!

It's just not Mardi Gras in Alexandria without a King Cake!
It's just not Mardi Gras in Alexandria without a King Cake!

 

 

Mardi Gras Dates in Upcoming Years

Calculating future Mardi Gras dates for Alexandria really isn't that complicated!

Easter is on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. The date can range from March 23 to April 25. Ash Wednesday is 46 days before Easter, and Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday.

With that said, here is a list of the next four Mardi Gras dates:

  • March 4, 2025
  • February 17, 2026
  • February 9, 2027
  • February 29, 2028

Need Lodging for Mardi Gras in Alexandria?

This website has no affiliation or connection with the listed hotel properties. It is always recommended that travelers do their own research and make informed decisions about the hotels they book.


Among the lodging offerings located in the Alexandria-Pineville area are:

Hotels Along Alexandria's South MacArthur Drive

Courtyard by Marriott

3830 Alexandria Mall Drive - near the Alexandria Mall and the South Traffic Circle

Courtyard by Marriott  in Alexandria, Louisiana

TownPlace Suites by Marriott

3810 Alexandria Mall Drive, Alexandria, LA 71301

TownPlace Suites by Marriott in Alexandria, Louisiana

Home2 Suites by Hilton Alexandria

3800 Alexandria Mall Drive, Alexandria, LA 71301

Home2 Suites by Hilton in Alexandria, Louisiana, at 3800 Alexandria Mall Drive

Fairfield Inn & Suites

2839 South MacArthur Drive, Alexandria, LA 71301

Fairfield Inn and Suites in Alexandria, Louisiana
   
Hotels Along Alexandria's North MacArthur Drive

Four Points by Sheraton Alexandria

2301 North MacArthur Dr, Alexandria, LA 71303

Four Points by Sheraton in Alexandria, Louisiana

Holiday Inn Express and Suites

2340 MacArthur Dr, Alexandria, LA 71303

Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Alexandria, Louisiana

Candlewood Suites

2344 North MacArthur Dr, Alexandria, LA 71303

Candlewood Suites in Alexandria, Louisiana

Comfort Inn

2001 North Bolton Avenue, Alexandria, LA 71303

Comfort Inn in Alexandria, Louisiana

Wyndam Garden Alexandria

2301 North MacArthur Dr, Alexandria, LA 71303

Wyndam Garden in Alexandria, Louisiana

Best Western of Alexandria Inn & Suites and Conference Center

2720 North MacArthur Drive, Alexandria, LA 71303

Best Western of Alexandria Inn and Suites and Conference Center
   
Hotels at the Airbase Road exit from I-49, near Alexandria International Airport
Hampton Inn & Suites - at the Airbase Road exit on I-49 Hampton Inn and Suites in Alexandria, Louisiana

La Quinta Inn & Suites

6116 West Calhoun Dr, Alexandria, LA 71303

Laquinta Inn and Suites in Alexandria, Louisiana

Comfort Suites

6015 Old Boyce Rd, Alexandria, LA 71303

Comfort Suites in Alexandria, Louisiana
   
Hotels Downtown near the Randolph Riverfront Center

Hotel Bentley and Condos

200 Desoto Street
Phone (318) 442-2226

Hotel Bentley in Alexandria, Louisiana
Holiday Inn Alexandria Downtown - Downtown, 701 Fourth Street, adjacent to the convention center Holiday Inn in downtown Alexandria, Louisiana
   
Hotels in Pineville
Holiday Inn Express & Suites - 2820 Monroe Highway, Pineville, LA

Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Pineville, Louisiana
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson - 2727 Monroe Highway, Pineville, LA Country Inn and Suites, Pineville, Louisiana
Sleep Inn & Suites - 3411 Highway 165, Pineville, LA Sleep Inn and Suites, Pineville, Louisiana