The Shreveport Mardi Gras Schedule Is Going To Be Crazy In 2024
We're just days removed from the end of the 2023 Mardi Gras season. But while many are in recovery mode, others are already planning for next year. Those who started their advanced planning have already noted some intriguing parts of next year's schedule.
Of course, the Shreveport Mardi Gras schedule is built off the overall Mardi Gras schedule, which has Fat Tuesday landing on February 13th in 2024.
Next year's Mardi Gras will be an early season, meaning Shreveport's Mardi Gras season will be starting just days into the new year. The Krewe of Centaur is traditionally the first "big" parade in Shreveport, and in 2024 they are scheduled to roll on Saturday, February 3rd. That means Centaur's Float Loading party will be Friday, February 2nd.
The last time Centaur's parade landed on February 3rd, their Bal was held on January 20th. That was in 2018. Centaur's Bal will likely be one of the, if not the, first "major" bal of the year in Shreveport for 2024.
But its not just an early year, and early Centaur dates. The way Shreveport's Mardi Gras is usually set up has the Krewe of Gemini rolling the Saturday after Centaur, and the Krewe of Highland rolling on the Sunday after Gemini. The weekend with Gemini and Highland is usually the final weekend before Fat Tuesday.
Now lets insert some other non-Mardi Gras events you'll need to be aware of for this packed schedule. The Super Bowl and Valentine's Day.
The Super Bowl was actually supposed to be in New Orleans in 2024, but because the NFL added some extra games along the way, it pushed the Super Bowl into Mardi Gras season. There's no way New Orleans could host both Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl at the same time, so the NFL pushed NOLA's Super Bowl back past 2025. But that still means the Super Bowl will land on the Sunday before Fat Tuesday.
In Shreveport, that means the Super Bowl will be on the same Sunday as the Krewe of Highland parade. The same weekend as the Krewe of Gemini parade as well.
With Fat Tuesday on February 13th, that means Valentine's Day will fall right after it on Ash Wednesday.
So let's look at all the things that will fall on the calendar after New Year's in Shreveport next year:
Mid-Late January: Krewe Bal events
Saturday, January 13th: Krewe of Sobek Parade (likely)
Monday, January 15th: Krewe of Harambee MLK Day Parade
Friday, February 2nd: Krewe of Centaur Float Loading
Saturday, February 3rd: Centaur Parade
Sunday, February 4th: Krewe of Barkus & Meoux Parade (likely)
Friday, February 9th: Krewe of Gemini Float Loading
Friday, February 9th: Krewe of Highland Bal (likely)
Saturday, February 10th: Gemini Parade
Sunday, February 11th: Krewe of Highland Parade
Sunday, February 11th: Super Bowl Sunday
Monday, February 12th: Lundi Gras
Tuesday, February 13th: Fat Tuesday
Wednesday, February 14th: Valentine's Day
There's a bunch of stuff worked in there too, but this is the meat of the Mardi Gras situation in the 318. Now imagine if the Dallas Cowboys or New Orleans Saints somehow find themselves in the Super Bowl next year. Or lets consider if the LSU Tigers were in the College Football Championship Game, which will also land in early to mid January.
Shreveport and Bossier are going to be VERY busy in early 2024...so start planning now.
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