JEFFERSON, La. (press release) – Jefferson Parish will officially kick-off the 2025 Carnival Season by recognizing this year’s Krewes on the Parish’s 200th birthday on Feb. 11 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Lakeside Shopping Center, in Metairie.
The ‘Kick-off to Carnival’ Bicentennial Celebration will officially mark the beginning of the 2025 Mardi Gras and year-long Bicentennial festivities. The event will feature live music by The Jay Walkers Second Line band with a special presentation recognizing many Captains, Kings, Queens and Grand Marshals for this year’s Carnival Krewes.
“We are excited about kicking off our 2025 Carnival Season on our Bicentennial birthday, and we are encouraging the entire community to join us as we recognize our rich 200-year history and celebrate all Jefferson Parish has to offer,” said Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng. “Just as Mardi Gras celebrates the spirit of unity and revelry, the Bicentennial reminds us to honor our history, marking both the joy of the present and the legacy of the past. Together, they create a vibrant tapestry of culture, tradition, and the unbreakable bond of our Jefferson Parish community.”
The 2025 Mardi Gras season in Jefferson Parish will include 12 parades on both the east and west bank of the parish. All the Metairie Mardi Gras parades will return to the traditional route of east on Veterans Boulevard.
The 2025 parade season will start with Little Rascals on Sunday, February 16 and continue the following Family Gras weekend with Krewe of Excalibur, Magical Krewe of MadHatters and Krewe of Atlas from Friday, February 21 to Sunday, February 23 in Metairie. The west bank route will include the Mystic Krewe of Music on Monday, February 24 and the Krewe of Nandi on Wednesday. February 26. Metairie parades will kick back up with the Krewe of Symphony on Thursday, February 27, Krewe of Athena on Sunday, March 2, Krewe of Centurions and Krewe of Kings on Monday, March 3, and Krewe of Argus and Elks Krewe of Jeffersonians on Tuesday, March 4.
The Bicentennial year will kick off on Tuesday, February 11 to include a variety of community events, local initiatives and new projects that instill a sense of pride for Jefferson Parish. Members of the public, civic leaders, business owners, churches, schools, nonprofits and community organizations are encouraged to be a part of this special anniversary by spearheading their own events, activities and programming. All are invited to visit www.JeffParish.gov/JP200 to download the official logo and add relevant dates to the Bicentennial Community Calendar to commemorate Jefferson Parish’s past, present and future. The calendar will include a full list of events throughout the year, including special events in Jefferson Parish, as well as significant anniversaries to remember.
Visit www.JeffParish.gov/CarnivalSeason to access the Jefferson Parish Carnival Season Dashboard, which houses the 2025 Parade Schedule, Parade Routes, Carnival Krewes, Family Gras and more.
To receive parade updates and alerts regarding parade routes, weather, entertainment and more, text JPMARDIGRAS to 888-777. For more information about Mardi Gras in Jefferson Parish, call the Jefferson Parish Citizens’ Affairs Department at (504) 736-6101. For more information about Jefferson Parish, visit www.JeffParish.gov. Residents can also receive regular updates by following the Parish on social media (@JeffParishGov) or by texting JPALERT or JPNOTICIAS to 888-777.
