We drove to Louisiana this past weekend to meet with family and attend the Youngsville 2023 Mardi Gras parade. New Orleans is historically synonymous with Mardi Gras, but there are times when you want to celebrate the carnival season with much smaller crowds in a more family friendly environment, rather than in the rowdy craziness of the big city celebration. There are many Mardi Gras parades in the Cajun country of Acadiana. The Youngsville 2023 Mardi Gras parade is probably one of the largest to enjoy for a small-town festivity. Lafayette also has multiple parades and fun celebrations. We planned to attend both parades.
Mardi Gras History
For those of you not familiar with Mardi Gras traditions, it might be helpful to share a bit of history with you. Mardi Gras isn’t just a single day, but the Mardi Gras, or Carnival season, spans from January 6th (Epiphany) and extends to Mardi Gras day. Translated from French, Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday, so it’s always the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Mardi Gras season starts slowly, but soon ramps up with frequent parties, abundant king cakes, and ultimately a flurry of parades leading up to Tuesday, Mardi Gras day. This day is the last opportunity to party and celebrate all the excesses of the season. Beginning Ash Wednesday, many people give up certain “vices” like certain foods, beverages, or other over-indulgences during the 40 days of Lent.
There is a bit of debate over where the first Mardi Gras celebrations occurred in the USA. Most people will guess New Orleans, but according to historians, it was actually Mobile, Alabama. Mobile was a settlement originally called Fort Louis de la Louisiane and served as the first capital of French Louisiana beginning in 1702. The first Mardi Gras celebration occurred there in 1703. New Orleans wasn’t established until 1718. New Orleans subsequently assumed the title of capital of French Louisiana in 1723.
A final historical note I want to add is that recently an LSU graduate discovered lost video footage from the New Orleans Rex Mardis Gras parade in 1898. It is believed to be the oldest video to exist. You can view photos and the video here.
Excited for the weekend
Early in the season, you’ll see everyone in Acadiana and around the state decorating with beads, flags and signs in purple, gold, and green. We stopped into the Lafayette Costco and found all these delicious goodies decorated and ready to eat. We like shopping at Costco for local products we can’t get at home. Here’s another post about the regional specialties at the Costco Canada food court.
Whenever we’re in Louisiana we have to stop for a drive-thru daquiri to keep hydrated on our drive. Not only are homes and stores outfitted in Mardi Gras colors, but the daquiris are too! This one came with a warning sticker on top of the lid that read “WARNING – opening this package will cause extreme happiness“. You gotta love it!
So why the Youngsville 2023 Mardi Gras Parade?
The primary reasons to attend the Youngsville and Lafayette parades were because Acadiana is where we were born. Danny grew up in the Youngsville area and I was born in New Iberia. So, it was a homecoming of sorts for both of us. In addition, we wanted to enjoy a small-town celebration instead of the pandemonium during a crowded New Orleans parade. Lafayette Parish is celebrating its bicentennial this year, 200 years since it was chartered by the state Legislature in 1823. The city of Youngsville is much younger. According to the City of Youngsville website, it was originally settled in the 1800’s, but didn’t become a town until 1983. From 1990-2005 it became Louisiana’s fastest growing town and its population increased 300%. The current population is 18,275. In 2019, it was named the best city to live in Louisiana.
Settling in along the parade route
It was a very chilly morning as the temperature was in the upper 30s, but it was warming up to the mid 50s by noon. We left early to find a parking spot long before they closed the streets in Youngsville at 9:00 for the 11:00 parade. Driving by Youngsville high school, we saw the floats lining up for the day.
We parked the truck and walked the rest of the way into town past the clock round about and the new municipal buildings for city hall and the police department. Traffic was already backing up at 8:30 when we arrived, and the barricades were in place.
Next to Crystal and Cristen, we set up our chairs in front of Acadiana Bar & Grill to have easy access to food, drinks and toilets behind the barricades. We bundled up for the cold and wind, but unfortunately, I forgot my hat and sunscreen – oops. Since there was plenty of time before the parade started, we walked around town to warm up a bit.
We stopped in front of St. Anne Catholic Church, one of the oldest Catholic churches in Lafayette Parish (1859) located on Church Street, Youngsville’s oldest street.
Youngsville Mayor Ken Ritter told the Acadiana Advocate that the Youngsville 2023 Mardi Gras Parade is the largest number of participants they’ve ever had before. This year’s parade will include 137 floats, 10 dance teams and three bands and is expected to last 4-5 hours.
Finally, it’s time for the Mardi Gras Parade
“Laissez les bons temps rouler” or let the good times roll. The parade begins, so join us below for a little bit of fun, photos, and floats.
We had a great time partying with our family and friends while drinking, dancing, singing and catching some beads. The parade did last almost 5 hours, so we headed back to the truck to drive to Lafayette. When we arrived in Lafayette, we decided to relax at Pour in River Ranch and enjoy a couple more cocktails.
We originally thought we’d head downtown for Lafayette’s Mardi Gras Parade that evening, but we quickly realized we were just too exhausted. Maybe it was our age showing, or perhaps the double Grey Goose cocktails and wine at the parade before we arrived at Pour. Surely not, so I think I’ll blame it on the sunburn. We’ll just have to celebrate in Lafayette next year.
Happy Mardi Gras everyone!
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