Carencro Mardi Gras Association Addresses Music Playlist Concerns

The Carencro Mardi Gras Association has officially announced the dates for the eagerly awaited 2024 Carencro Mardi Gras Parade, setting the stage for the annual celebration on January 27, 2024. This year, the parade, a cornerstone of the Mardi Gras festivities in the Acadiana area, is embracing its 40th anniversary with a unique and family-friendly flair.

Following the opening of float registration earlier this month, the association has been at the center of an ongoing debate regarding its new music playlist rule. In response to concerns raised by the community, a recent Facebook update shed light on the association's decision to provide a curated music playlist for float riders, accessible via a designated radio station frequency and/or an app stream.

Staff Photo

This move, aimed at enhancing the parade's family-friendly atmosphere, comes after several complaints about profane and inappropriate music choices in previous years. The Carencro Mardi Gras Association says they have partnered with local radio DJs to compile a diverse mix of music genres, including Zydeco, Cajun, Country, Oldies, Hip Hop, Dance, Rap, and Current Hits, ensuring that all songs are free of profanity.

While this new approach has garnered mixed reactions from the Mardi Gras community, it represents the association's effort to maintain the parade's wholesome spirit. The debate over music choices at Mardi Gras parades has intensified in recent years, further amplified by social media, where videos of parades from across Louisiana and other Mardi Gras-celebrating regions often go viral.

This year's parade, starting at Carencro High School and wrapping up near the Carencro Community Center, is sure to be a festive event for both locals and visitors, continuing a community tradition that has spanned decades.

As the parade's 40th edition approaches, the Carencro Mardi Gras Association encourages interested parties to register their floats soon, as spots are filling up quickly. For the most accurate and up-to-date information about the Carencro Mardi Gras Parade, the public is advised to visit the official website, CarencroParade.com.