Throughout the Gulf Coast region of the South, Black Mardi Gras krewes will be crowning kings and queens, hosting balls and leading parades – COVID permitting – this season. There are cities like Galveston, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, Mobile, Mobile Bay, Bay St. Louis and Shreveport that are celebrating Mardi Gras with festivities. Some like Shreveport’s Krewe of Sobek celebrate in January, but please follow them to keep up with events they host all year round.
Here is a round-up of the krewes and some of their festivities.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Courtesy Krewe of Oshun Baton Rouge
Krewe of Oshun Baton Rouge | Instagram: @kreweofoshunbr
The Krewe of Oshun celebrates the power of community and their parade serves North Baton Rouge.
February 19, 2022
2nd Annual Krewe of Oshun Mardi Gras Parade & Festival, Noon – 6 PM CST
Bay St. Louis
Courtesy of Krewe of Diamonds
Tuesday, March 1, 2022, 1 PM – Mardi Gras Day
Krewe of Diamonds Mardi Gras Parade
Galveston
2019 Mardi Gras Parade | Photo by James Ramos,Texas Catholic Herald
Krewe d’Esprit Rosaire is the only Black and Black Catholic Krewe located on the island. They are a 501c3 organization that supports Morgan & Holy Family Catholic Elementary schools.
Saturday, Feb. 19
Krewe d’Esprit Rosaire Ball, Moody Gardens Hotel
Saturday, Feb. 26
Krewe d’Esprit Rosaire Parade, 11 a.m. (Seawall)
This parade will feature high-stepping marching bands, bead throwing and even some food throwing. Back by popular demand is “the Battle of the Bands” competition, which will take place before the parade.
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Courtesy Krewe of Omega
Krewe of Omega (Rho Chi chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.)
February 26, 2022, 2 PM, Free
Starts on the Northside of Civic Center to Broad St. heading east to Enterprise Blvd, left on Enterprise to Mill St., left on Mill St. back to Civic Center.
Mobile, Alabama
2022 Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association Grand Marshal with the Royal Court
The Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association Inc. (MAMGA)
The Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association Inc. (MAMGA), is a premier organization comprised of prominent businessmen and civic leaders, since 1938, they’ve showcased the best in the Mobile community, and the entire Gulf Coast.
Tuesday, March 1 (Fat Tuesday), 2 PM (Route B)
Mobile Bay, Alabama
The Krewe of Goats Mardi Gras Organization was founded in 1995 in the city of Prichard, Alabama.
February 26, Prichard Mardi Gras Association Parade | 12 PM, Prichard AL
Shreveport
Courtesy Krewe of Harambee
The Krewe of Harambee Mardi Gras Experience
The Krewe of Harambee and the Queens of Harambee parade in January but their grand ball and other events hosted throughout the year support a variety of local causes and a scholarship fund.
Krewe of Harambee Grand Ball
Feb. 22, 7 p.m., Shreveport Convention Center
Courtesy Krewe of Sobek
The Krewe of Sobek is dedicated to bringing the time-honored traditions and experience of Mardi Gras to the inner city. Their parade took place on Saturday, January 15, 2022.
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Robin Caldwell is the blogger behind freshandfriedhard.com and a public historian and researcher focusing on Black culinary traditions and foodways.
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