Lafayette's Children's Parade Brings Fun for All Ages

Annual event celebrates Mardi Gras with floats, bands, and plenty of throws for kids and families.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The annual Lafayette Children's Parade rolled through the city on Saturday, drawing crowds of all ages to celebrate Mardi Gras. The parade featured floats, marching bands, and plenty of beads and other throws for the kids to catch. Both young parade-goers and their grandparents expressed excitement about the family-friendly event and the chance to come together and enjoy the Acadiana region's Mardi Gras traditions.

Why it matters

The Lafayette Children's Parade is a long-standing tradition that brings the community together each year to celebrate Mardi Gras. As a family-focused event, it helps pass down Acadiana's rich cultural heritage to the next generation while providing a fun and safe environment for kids to experience the excitement of the Carnival season.

The details

The parade featured colorful floats, marching bands, and plenty of beads, doubloons, and other throws for the children to catch. While the parade is geared towards kids, people of all ages came out to enjoy the festivities, with grandparents like Michele expressing their love of the event's sense of community and tradition.

  • The Lafayette Children's Parade took place on Saturday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Jamison

A young parade-goer who said his favorite part of Mardi Gras is catching beads.

Michele

Jamison's grandmother, who enjoys the sense of community and tradition at the Lafayette Children's Parade.

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What they’re saying

“I love being out with my family. I mean, I love seeing the floats. I love seeing the band. But my favorite part about Mardi Gras is that I get to catch a lot of beads.”

— Jamison

“My favorite part about it is just getting together with the family and enjoying all of Acadiana and all that Acadiana has to offer—all of the friendships and just the excitement of coming to the parades and catching the beads.”

— Michele, Jamison's grandmother

The takeaway

The Lafayette Children's Parade is a cherished annual tradition that brings the community together to celebrate Mardi Gras and pass down the region's rich cultural heritage to the next generation. The event's family-friendly atmosphere and focus on fun for all ages make it a beloved part of the Acadiana Carnival season.