Forget about New Orleans. For the best Mardi Gras experience to be found, head to Lake Charles, La. Where else can you attend a Royal Gala and see the elaborate costumes of more than 40 krewes? Where else can you participate in a parade and throw beads to the crowd? Where else can you find a family-friendly Mardi Gras that even offers an alcohol-free zone.
Lake Charles, Louisiana, is the place where you will find all of this and more during the wonderful Mardi Gras season each year. Lake Charles is actually a great place to visit any time of the year. The natural beauty of the area, year-round festivals and gaming are just a few of the things that bring visitors to this portion of Southwest Louisiana each year.
Lake Charles adventure: Family-style Mardi Gras highlight of trip
During my recent visit, most of our activities were centered around Mardi Gras festivities. Mardi Gras is huge in Louisiana. It’s actually a state holiday. There was no school Monday and Tuesday of the last week of Mardi Gras. Can you imagine that? A school holiday for a festival or celebration. It’s a magical time in the state and people prepare all year for the parades and parties. You will find plenty of over the top glitz and glamour in Lake Charles, which hosts the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in Louisiana.
ROYAL GALA
One night we attended the Royal Gala at the Lake Charles Civic Center where more than 40 krewes paraded through the civic center in all of their feathers, sequins and elaborate costumes to cheers from adults and children alike. It was a wonderful family night out with plenty of fun for people of all ages. The Royal Gala truly is the Cinderella moment of Mardi Gras in Lake Charles.
The costumes were huge with some weighing more than 65 pounds. The court had no problem wearing the costumes and even taking a bow before the beauty queens and mayor at the front of the stage. It’s a great way to get a look at the kings, queens, royal dukes and duchesses, captains, courtesans and jesters in full costume.
MUSEUM AND KING CAKE
To get a glimpse of these costumes throughout the history of the Lake Charles Mardi Gras, be sure to visit the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, located at 809 Kirby Street. This museum is a real gem with some of the most amazing costumes ever on display. A highlight is the animated mannequins that tell the story of Mardi Gras.
After our tour, we enjoyed another Mardi Gras tradition — decorating king cakes. We decorated our cakes at Delicious Donuts and Bakery, located at 2283 Country Club Road, Lake Charles. We were able to ship them to our homes and they were actually delivered the next day. My family enjoyed the cherry cream cheese king cake that I sent days before I returned home. Thankfully, they saved me a piece of the scrumptious cake.
PLENTY OF PARADES
We participated in the Red Hat parade and attended the Krewe of Krewe parade to catch some beads, as well as checking out the boat parade. Red Hat chapters from Louisiana, Texas and other areas participated in the Red Hat parade. It’s a unique experience to be able to be on the other side of the parade and throw beads to the crowd. Kids and adults alike go crazy when you swing those beads in the air. “Throw me some beads” was yelled by people of all ages.
Later that same night, we attended the Krewe of Krewe parade to catch some beads of our own. I got plenty of beads for all of my family and friends at home. I managed to squeeze all of them into my bags for the flight home.
It was an evening parade and it took several hours to wind through downtown Lake Charles. The floats are so elaborate and the members of the krewes throw plenty of beads and other trinkets to the crowd.
Another night, we attended the lighted boat parade along the Lake Charles Civic Center Seawall. It’s a fun event with the highlight being the floats all lit up and decorated.
One thing is for sure. You will get plenty of beads. While I was excited about taking mine home for family and friends, the locals don’t keep all of their beads. Each year, the Southwest Louisiana Chapter of the Autism Society of America collects Mardi Gras beads. These beads are sorted, packaged and sold to local krewes. Proceeds from the bead sales go toward purchasing books for the lending library, funding camp, conducting workshops and helping educate and bring awareness to parents and people in the community about autism.
It’s time now to start planning to attend next year’s Mardi Gras in Lake Charles. It will be held Feb. 16.
WHERE TO EAT
Louisiana is known for its wonderful Cajun and Creole cuisine with crawfish, gumbo, boudin, etouffee and jambalaya among the options that you must try. A few of our stops included the following:
•Mazen’s, where you will find Mediterranean dining in a casual but elegant atmosphere. Appetizers include kibbie and humus, as well as some great oyster selections. The entrees include steaks or fish. I loved Fish Christine, which is pan sautéed filet of fresh fish topped with shrimp and mushrooms and served in a mournay sauce and accented with lemon butter. Be sure to save room for soufflé for dessert. The chocolate is wonderful. Mazen’s is located at 217 College Street. For more information, call 337-477-8207.
•Steamboat Bills on the Lake, located at 1004 Lakeshore Drive, is a great place for seafood in a casual setting. Most everyone tries a plate of crawfish and are wonderful. If you don’t know how to eat this crawfish, a local will be glad to show you how. A young diner clued me in on breaking off the tail for the meat. For more information, call 337-494-1070.
•Chastains, located at 3922 Ryan Street, is where to go for plate lunches, oysters and beef frisket poboys. They have wonderful gumbo and I followed it up with a great oyster poboy. For more information, call 337-474-4700.
•Pat’s of Henderson, located at 1500 Seibarth Drive, Lake Charles, is another great place for some wonderful seafood. I loved the spicy oyster and shrimp gumbo, as well as the catfish bites and stuffed mushrooms. The raspberry sweet tea is also a real treat.
For more information, call 337-439-6619.
WHERE TO STAY
L’Auberge du Luc is a destination in itself. With 1,000 rooms, a golf course, huge pool with lazy river, plenty of dining and shopping options, a 1-500-seat entertainment venue, full-service spa and 30,000 square foot gaming area, you can have a vacation without ever leaving the grounds. The luxurious, Vegas-style resort offers stunning views. The lobby at the main entrance has massive stone fireplaces with plenty of comfy sofas and chairs. It makes a great place to people watch or relax after a day of sight-seeing. Standing at 26 stories tall, calling it grand would be an understatement.
I had a fourth floor room overlooking the huge lazy river pool. If the weather had been warmer, I would have certainly checked this out further. It looked like a great place to soak up some sun and get wet.
The rooms are spacious and inviting with feather pillows and duvets in white. The bathrooms are also spacious with marble floors and countertops.
L’Auberge du Luc has several great breakfast options, including: Lattes, Le Cafe and Le Beaucoup Buffet. I tried all three during my stay and found them all to be great choices. For lunch and dinner, you will also find a wide variety from casual to elegant.
SHOPPING
While in Lake Charles, make time to visit the Cottage Shop District, which has several unique and fun shops, including Focal Point, The Louisiana Market, The Perfect Gift, T-Fig, Once In a Blue Moon, Jon Margeaux, A Piece of Cake and Honey Luv.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information, contact:
•Lake Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau, www.visitlakecharles.org. For information on Mardi Gras, go to www.swlamardigras.com.
•L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort, www.ldlcasino.com or 337-395-7777.
•Delicious Donuts and Bakery, www.deliciouskingcakes.com.
•Cottage Shop District, www.cottageshopslc.com or 337-433-9722.
•Bon Temps Express, www.bontempsexpress.com or 337-774-4386. Large groups can rent this bus by the hour and not have to worry about directions or parking.
ROYAL GALA
One night we attended the Royal Gala at the Lake Charles Civic Center where more than 40 krewes paraded through the civic center in all of their feathers, sequins and elaborate costumes to cheers from adults and children alike. It was a wonderful family night out with plenty of fun for people of all ages. The Royal Gala truly is the Cinderella moment of Mardi Gras in Lake Charles.
The costumes were huge with some weighing more than 65 pounds. The court had no problem wearing the costumes and even taking a bow before the beauty queens and mayor at the front of the stage. It’s a great way to get a look at the kings, queens, royal dukes and duchesses, captains, courtesans and jesters in full costume.
MUSEUM AND KING CAKE
To get a glimpse of these costumes throughout the history of the Lake Charles Mardi Gras, be sure to visit the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, located at 809 Kirby Street. This museum is a real gem with some of the most amazing costumes ever on display. A highlight is the animated mannequins that tell the story of Mardi Gras.
After our tour, we enjoyed another Mardi Gras tradition — decorating king cakes. We decorated our cakes at Delicious Donuts and Bakery, located at 2283 Country Club Road, Lake Charles. We were able to ship them to our homes and they were actually delivered the next day. My family enjoyed the cherry cream cheese king cake that I sent days before I returned home. Thankfully, they saved me a piece of the scrumptious cake.
PLENTY OF PARADES
We participated in the Red Hat parade and attended the Krewe of Krewe parade to catch some beads, as well as checking out the boat parade. Red Hat chapters from Louisiana, Texas and other areas participated in the Red Hat parade. It’s a unique experience to be able to be on the other side of the parade and throw beads to the crowd. Kids and adults alike go crazy when you swing those beads in the air. “Throw me some beads” was yelled by people of all ages.
Later that same night, we attended the Krewe of Krewe parade to catch some beads of our own. I got plenty of beads for all of my family and friends at home. I managed to squeeze all of them into my bags for the flight home.
It was an evening parade and it took several hours to wind through downtown Lake Charles. The floats are so elaborate and the members of the krewes throw plenty of beads and other trinkets to the crowd.
Another night, we attended the lighted boat parade along the Lake Charles Civic Center Seawall. It’s a fun event with the highlight being the floats all lit up and decorated.
One thing is for sure. You will get plenty of beads. While I was excited about taking mine home for family and friends, the locals don’t keep all of their beads. Each year, the Southwest Louisiana Chapter of the Autism Society of America collects Mardi Gras beads. These beads are sorted, packaged and sold to local krewes. Proceeds from the bead sales go toward purchasing books for the lending library, funding camp, conducting workshops and helping educate and bring awareness to parents and people in the community about autism.
It’s time now to start planning to attend next year’s Mardi Gras in Lake Charles. It will be held Feb. 16.
WHERE TO EAT
Louisiana is known for its wonderful Cajun and Creole cuisine with crawfish, gumbo, boudin, etouffee and jambalaya among the options that you must try. A few of our stops included the following:
•Mazen’s, where you will find Mediterranean dining in a casual but elegant atmosphere. Appetizers include kibbie and humus, as well as some great oyster selections. The entrees include steaks or fish. I loved Fish Christine, which is pan sautéed filet of fresh fish topped with shrimp and mushrooms and served in a mournay sauce and accented with lemon butter. Be sure to save room for soufflé for dessert. The chocolate is wonderful. Mazen’s is located at 217 College Street. For more information, call 337-477-8207.
•Steamboat Bills on the Lake, located at 1004 Lakeshore Drive, is a great place for seafood in a casual setting. Most everyone tries a plate of crawfish and are wonderful. If you don’t know how to eat this crawfish, a local will be glad to show you how. A young diner clued me in on breaking off the tail for the meat. For more information, call 337-494-1070.
•Chastains, located at 3922 Ryan Street, is where to go for plate lunches, oysters and beef frisket poboys. They have wonderful gumbo and I followed it up with a great oyster poboy. For more information, call 337-474-4700.
•Pat’s of Henderson, located at 1500 Seibarth Drive, Lake Charles, is another great place for some wonderful seafood. I loved the spicy oyster and shrimp gumbo, as well as the catfish bites and stuffed mushrooms. The raspberry sweet tea is also a real treat.
For more information, call 337-439-6619.
WHERE TO STAY
L’Auberge du Luc is a destination in itself. With 1,000 rooms, a golf course, huge pool with lazy river, plenty of dining and shopping options, a 1-500-seat entertainment venue, full-service spa and 30,000 square foot gaming area, you can have a vacation without ever leaving the grounds. The luxurious, Vegas-style resort offers stunning views. The lobby at the main entrance has massive stone fireplaces with plenty of comfy sofas and chairs. It makes a great place to people watch or relax after a day of sight-seeing. Standing at 26 stories tall, calling it grand would be an understatement.
I had a fourth floor room overlooking the huge lazy river pool. If the weather had been warmer, I would have certainly checked this out further. It looked like a great place to soak up some sun and get wet.
The rooms are spacious and inviting with feather pillows and duvets in white. The bathrooms are also spacious with marble floors and countertops.
L’Auberge du Luc has several great breakfast options, including: Lattes, Le Cafe and Le Beaucoup Buffet. I tried all three during my stay and found them all to be great choices. For lunch and dinner, you will also find a wide variety from casual to elegant.
SHOPPING
While in Lake Charles, make time to visit the Cottage Shop District, which has several unique and fun shops, including Focal Point, The Louisiana Market, The Perfect Gift, T-Fig, Once In a Blue Moon, Jon Margeaux, A Piece of Cake and Honey Luv.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information, contact:
•Lake Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau, www.visitlakecharles.org. For information on Mardi Gras, go to www.swlamardigras.com.
•L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort, www.ldlcasino.com or 337-395-7777.
•Delicious Donuts and Bakery, www.deliciouskingcakes.com.
•Cottage Shop District, www.cottageshopslc.com or 337-433-9722.
•Bon Temps Express, www.bontempsexpress.com or 337-774-4386. Large groups can rent this bus by the hour and not have to worry about directions or parking.
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