City working to ensure fun, safe Mardi Gras

Published 7:16 pm Tuesday, February 7, 2023

The city of Lake Charles is revving up the height of Mardi Gras season.

“We’ve been celebrating since Jan. 6, and we’re coming into the high points of the final weekends of the Mardi Gras season for 2023,” said Katie Harrington, city of Lake Charles public information officer.

After a brief break, Fat Tuesday celebrations were reinstituted in 2022.

“Mardi Gras made its triumphant return last year after a year away in 2021, and I think I can say that we were all thrilled to see so many faces back out on the parade route,” she said. “We are looking even more forward to a successful year in 2023.”

Mardi Gras events are vital for Southwest Louisiana’s cultural and economic health. Harrington referenced a commissioned study by Visit Lake Charles prior to the events of 2020. This study determined Mardi Gras events have a positive economic impact of $22 million a year.

To prepare for the upcoming festivities, the city held a public meeting for property and business owners along Mardi Gras parade routes.

John Cardone, city administrator, said this is something that is done every year. “We try to have a public meeting, to walk with the businesses and operators along the parade route and also people in the area to try to give them an idea of what’s taking place.”

Meetings like this ensure that Mardi Gras is successful. “For us, a successful Mardi Gras is a safe experience with no major incidents,” said Harrington. “We’re proud of that track record and work hard to ensure that we have a safe, family friendly environment, and then also look for areas of improvement that we can work towards for the next season.”

Sergeant Scott Dougherty, Lake Charles Police Department, Traffic Division, was present to lay out the parade rules, parking restrictions and safety issues.

Parade Dos and Don’ts are as follows: No littering, no glass containers of any kind, leave your pets at home, leave all valuables at home, no open fires or BBQ pits in or on vehicles of public right-of-ways, do not pour hot coals on the ground, stay behind all police lines or curbs, do not join, chase or follow floats, no bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, hoverboards or Smart Balance Wheels along the routes and do not obstruct sidewalks.

Dougherty noted that it is important to be kind and courteous to your neighbors and fellow celebrators.

Street vendors are not allowed to operate north of Clarence Street – Downtown or on Civic Center property – and vendors north of 18th Street must be off the route at parade start time. Vendors south of 18th Street must be off the route 30 minutes after parade start time.

To ensure public safety, there will be command centers throughout the parade route; there will be one at the Lake Charles Civic Center and one at Ryan Street and Park Avenue at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral School. On Feb. 21, Mardi Gras Day, there will be an additional command center in front of the Home Furniture store on Ryan Street.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office will also have a command post in the old Kmart parking lot, 4070 Ryan St.

Centers will be manned throughout the events. “If you need anything and you can’t find an officer along the route, you can go to one of these lampposts and they will be able to assist you.”

Additional traffic control will be implemented this year “in the interest of public works assistance for cleanup after the parade,” said Dougherty.

Along the parade route, there are sections of street that will be converted into one-ways. Those heading south on Ryan St. from the 18th Street area will only be able to get on the 210. If driving south north of 18th street, one will only be able to turn east onto 18th street. Lastly, those driving north from Sale Street will only be able to get onto I-10 East.

Officers will be stationed at major intersections to facilitate the flow of traffic.

Ryan Street will be shut down until Belden Street for the staging of sweepers and other public works equipment.

Bagged litter and trash will be picked up by Public Works beginning at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22. All bagged litter and trash should be placed at the curb after the parades.

The first parade, the Lake Charles Mardi Gras Parade, is this Sunday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. It begins at the Lake Charles Civic Center, and will travel down Broad Street, to Shattuck Street. From there, the parade will turn onto Belden Street, travel to Ryan Street, turn onto Pine Street and return to the Civic Center.

The Cumulus Broadcasting Krewe of Barkus Parade is at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. This parade has a new route, starting at the intersection of Broad and Ryan Street. It will progress down Broad Street to Hodges Street and end at Cumulus Broadcasting, 425 Broad St.

The Mardi Gras of SWLA, Inc.’s Merchants’ Parade will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17, the Children’s Parade is at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19 and the Krewe of Krewes Parade will begin at 5 p.m. on Mardi Gras Day. All three of these parades will depart at the north end of Bord du Lac Drive, cross over Lakeshore Drive onto Pine Street, turn right onto Ryan Street and continue south on Ryan to Sale Road where they will end.

Also on Mardi Gras day will be the Mardi Gras of SWLA’s Second Line Stroll Walking Parade at 1 p.m. This parade will travel from Pine and Ryan Street and south down Ryan Street to Clarence Street. The Jeeps on Parade will start at 2 p.m. and process down Ryan Street from Pine Street onto Sallier Street. Lastly, the Motor Gras Parade begins at 3 p.m., beginning at Pine and Ryan Streets and heading south to Sale Road.

For a full list of Mardi Gras parades and events, visit www.swlamardigras.com.