New Indoor Parade Kicks Off SW La Carnival Season

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — More than 50 southwest Louisiana parade groups will usher in the Carnival season with a Jan. 6 parade led by last year's royal courts.

The American Press reports that the new Twelfth Night Parade will be inside the Lake Charles Civic Center. Admission is $5 to $6.

Katie Harrington, president of Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana, says the parade is the biggest change in the season, which begins on Twelfth Night — Jan. 6 — and ends on Fat Tuesday — Feb. 12.

Her group and the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor's Bureau held a news conference recently about the season.

As well as parades, area events include gumbo-cook-offs, a food festival, morning house-to-house rides for gumbo ingredients and a park parade of costumed dogs.