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The Krewe of Bonaparte is Saved by the Bell

BY KRIS WARTELLE | Contributing writer
Mar 4, 2024

The last Mardi Gras ball of the Carnival season before Fat Tuesday’s City Ball is also one of the best. The Krewe of Bonaparte saved its best for the huge crowds of krewe members, friends, and…

Queen Evangeline LXXXV honors her royal court at an elegant luncheon

BY KRIS WARTELLE | Contributing writer
Mar 4, 2024

Queen Evangeline LXXXV Mary Elise Quoyeser welcomed family, friends, guests and her royal maids to her traditional Queen’s Luncheon on Monday, Feb. 12 at the City Club in Lafayette.

King Gabriel LXXXV welcomes krewe and guests at his annual royal luncheon

BY KRIS WARTELLE | Contributing writer
Feb 21, 2024

The Cajundome Convention Center was alive with the Mardi Gras spirit on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon as Gabriel and krewe filled the center for the annual king's luncheon.

The mighty Krewe of Triton roars through the Cajundome

BY KRIS WARTELLE | Contributing writer
Feb 21, 2024

The Krewe of Triton knows how to throw a party. If the crowd needed any help getting into the Mardi Gras spirit, this ball (which includes an actual parade) accomplished that in a big way.

The Krewe of Xanadu goes big on Dreams and Wishes

BY KRIS WARTELLE | Contributing writer
Feb 15, 2024

When it comes to Mardi Gras balls, the ladies Krewe of Xanadu definitely believes in the saying, “Go Big or Go Home.” Their ball and pageant are always bigger than life productions, which attr…

The Order of Troubadours exceeds expectations at its 71st Mardi Gras ball

BY KRIS WARTELLE | Contributing writer
Feb 15, 2024

The Krewe of Troubadours topped even its own standard, which is pretty high, for the 71st Pageant and Ball on Saturday, Feb. 3. The extravagant affair was held at the Frem Boustany Convention …

Order of the Troubadours’ King Richard dances his way into everyone’s hearts

BY KRIS WARTELLE | Contributing writer
Feb 15, 2024

The recent King’s party for The Order of Troubadours’ King Richard Coeur de Lion was one to remember.

New Lafayette food truck serves up birria ramen, 'hangover cure' noodles, more for parades

BY JOANNA BROWN | Staff writer
Feb 12, 2024

Noodlehead arrived on the Lafayette food truck scene in December, and in just a few short weeks, they’ve become known for specialties such as birria ramen, wonton tacos and “hangover cure” noodles.

Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival queen hopes to inspire others to serve their community

BY JOANNA BROWN | Staff writer
Feb 11, 2024

Kelsie Sonnier describes herself as shy, but she has never been afraid to put herself out there in service to her community.

Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival king feels blessed to serve in the midst of cancer diagnosis

BY JOANNA BROWN | Staff writer
Feb 11, 2024

When Craig Gregory was asked to serve as the 66th king of the Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Association eight months ago, he had no idea that he would soon be facing a cancer diagnosis.

Queen Evangeline LXXXV, Queen of Carnival, Mary Elise Quoyeser, brings grace, tradition to her reign

BY KRIS WARTELLE | Contributing writer
Feb 11, 2024

Queen Evangeline LXXXV Mary Elise Quoyeser has plenty of prominent family ties to Mardi Gras. But she is also a standout among royalty for her incredible record beyond the Carnival season.

King Gabriel LXXXV David Aloysius Koke, Jr. brings years of Mardi Gras experience to his reign

BY KRIS WARTELLE | Contributing writer
Feb 11, 2024

When Lafayette native David Aloysius Koke, Jr., was asked by the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association to reign as Gabriel LXXXV, King of Carnival, for the 2024 Mardi Gras season,…

If you hear sirens this weekend, you may be in the presence of Mardi Gras royalty

BY JOANNA BROWN | Staff writer
Feb 9, 2024

Part of the fun of Mardi Gras is the sheer amount of tradition that surrounds this time of year. From leaving the knife in the box, to the strategies that go into catching the best throw of th…

Mardi Gras weather: When will it rain and how cold will it be in Lafayette?

BY ASHLEY WHITE | Staff writer
Feb 9, 2024

A little rain won't stop the Mardi Gras parades, but Acadiana revelers may still want to grab their rainboots this weekend.

The anatomy of Mardi Gras: A look at the moving parts that make Lafayette parades roll

BY JOANNA BROWN | Staff writer
Feb 8, 2024

The crowds show up for the colorful floats, danceable music, fun costumes, and of course, the throws. But a Lafayette Mardi Gras parade does not simply arrive full-fledged at Pontiac Point, li…

The Krewe of Victoria breaks out the Tiffany diamonds and pearls for its 30th Mardi Gras Ball

BY KRIS WARTELLE | Contributing writer
Feb 7, 2024

The ladies krewe of Victoria brought out its best at the annual ball and pageant on Friday, Feb.2.

The Order of the Troubadours celebrates 71st Queen Berengaria at annual luncheon

BY KRIS WARTELLE | Contributing writer
Feb 7, 2024

The Order of the Troubadours honored Queen Berengaria of Navarre Olivia Topham at her royal luncheon Friday, Feb. 2.

Krewe of Apollo celebrates 47 years of reading 'Between the Covers'

BY KRIS WARTELLE | Contributing writer
Feb 6, 2024

Thousands turned out for the Krewe of Apollo’s Bal Masque XLVII on Jan. 24 in the Cajundome Convention Center. Hard believe, but the annual ball and pageant is in its 47th year of wowing crowd…

Lafayette Coulee Monster encourages people to be mindful of their trash during Mardi Gras

BY ASHLEY WHITE | Staff writer
Feb 3, 2024

Legend has it the Coulee Monster once lived in the swamps of Acadiana. As the population grew and with that, people's waste increased, the Coulee Monster moved to the coulees of Lafayette to h…

Clean up efforts expanding in Lafayette this Mardi Gras: 'A little effort goes a long way'

BY JOANNA BROWN | Staff writer
Feb 2, 2024

This Mardi Gras, Lafayette parade-goers will be competing for space along the route with 750 AWS garbage carts. The carts were set out alongside the barricades this week and serve as a visual …

There's rain in the forecast this weekend; see what that means for Acadiana's Mardi Gras parades

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON | Staff writer
Feb 1, 2024

In Lafayette and surrounding communities, Mardi Gras is in full swing and that means a weekend of parades and other activities. Because the weather forecast calls for rain over the weekend, he…

Who has the best king cake in Acadiana? Vote now in final round of our king cake bracket!

Staff report
Jan 30, 2024

Whether you've lived in Louisiana your whole life or are new to the Lafayette area, chances are you've found a place that serves your favorite sweet treat that feels illegal to eat them outsid…

The Mystic Krewe of Attakapas celebrates Mardi Gras 2024 at its 55th Annual Ball and Pageant

BY KRIS WARTELLE | Contributing writer
Updated Jan 24, 2024

The ladies' Krewe of Attakapas danced its way into Mardi Gras at the krewe’s annual ball Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Frem F. Boustany Convention Center in Lafayette. The krewe honored this year’…

Burgers, churros and egg rolls, but make it king cake: new tastes for Acadiana Mardi Gras

BY JOANNA BROWN | Staff writer
Jan 19, 2024

Acadiana can't get enough king cake, and local chefs are answering our need for the sweet treat with new twists on the Mardi Gras classic that go well beyond innovations in fillings.