Le Festival de Mardi Gras @ Cajun Field

The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association will host the 18th annual "Le Festival de Mardi Gras a' Lafayette" from Friday, March 4th through Mardi Gras day at U.L.- Lafayette's Cajun Field.

The Festival will include an exciting carnival mid-way, native Cajun foods, and an outstanding line-up of live music.  To make the Festival a complete Mardi Gras experience, the route for all of Lafayette's parades will pass directly through the Festival grounds.  This popular festival enters it's 18th year with a robust line-up of live music, a gigantic carnival midway, ample parking, and terrific viewing spots for all of Lafayette's parades.

"The Festival has earned a reputation for being a wonderful, family oriented celebration of Mardi Gras.  We are constantly working to improve the event and the entertainment we offer. We've designed the Festival so that it offers something for everyone.

The Louisiana Lottery midway will offer a wide variety of rides, from an area specially designed for small children, to fast, exciting, and wilder rides.  We have also developed several price promotions that make our carnival within everyone's budget.   The Rouses Soundstage has one of the most extensive and diverse arrays of local, regional, and national musicians ever assembled.  Borden will be on hand with free rides on the popular Borden train.  Plus, all of the parades pass right through the Festival grounds," Mann said.

"Cajun Field will be transformed for the 5-day event, with the huge carnival midway, the live music soundstage and plenty of convenient parking.  It's quite a sight to see and everyone wants to be at Cajun Field for Mardi Gras!" Mann said.  "We are very excited to have local restaurants and caterers participating again this year.  The quality and variety the food these local vendors provide is tremendous.  We work hard to make the Festival site the easiest, safest, and most convenient spot to watch the parades," Mann added.

What's the best part about "Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette?" -- IT'S FREE!  Admission to the Louisiana Lottery Midway, the Rouses soundstage, the Borden train , as well as the parade viewing areas are free.  There is a $10 charge for parking at Cajun Field. All of the money generated from the Festival will be used by the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association to develop and promote Lafayette's Mardi Gras parades and activities.

The event is sponsored by the Louisiana Lottery, Rouses Supermarkets, Borden and the Lafayette Regional Airport Commission.

The festival is hoping to announce a few surprise performers, so everyone is encouraged to visit the festitvals FaceBook page (search "Le Festival"), or visit www.GoMardiGras.com and sign up for the email list.