It’s time to laissez le bon temps rouler! Dogs and their owners along the Gulf Coast are getting their parade gear ready. Floats are lining up and being decorated and for many along the Gulf Coast, it is the most wonderful time of the year- Mardi Gras Season. This means parade fun, lots of king cakes, and second line music! If you live in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama, there are opportunities to get your furry friends involved in this year’s festivities! Keep reading to find a dog friendly parade near you!
Krewe of Salty Paws: Dauphin Island, AL Saturday, January 27th @ 10 AM
If you love small beach towns, look no further than dog friendly Dauphin Island, Alabama for their Krewe of Salty Paws parade! The parade’s theme this year is “Mythical Beasts and Other Fantastic Creatures” and the Krewe rolls at 10 am. Proceeds benefit the Animal Rescue Foundation. Learn more here and view the event page here.
The Mystic Krewe of Mutts Parade: Baton Rouge, LA Sunday, January 28th @ 2PM
The Krewe of Mystic Mutts takes on downtown Baton Rouge on Sunday, January 28th. The parade rolls at 2pm but there are food trucks and vendors set up along North Blvd downtown before the parade. We always look forward to this parade! This parade is CAAWS largest fundraiser of the year and all proceeds help support their spay and neuter program. This year’s theme is PAWTY Like It’s 1999. You can learn more here and you can register to walk in the parade here.
Puppy Gras at OWA: Gulf Shores, AL Dauphin Island, AL Saturday, February 3rd @ 2:30 PM
OWA is located in Gulf Shores, Alabama, so this would make a perfect weekend getaway to the beach. The weather is usually pretty nice in Alabama this time of year, so if you feel like checking out the OWA theme park and shops, this would be a great event for the whole family. We’ve done their Dog St. Patrick’s Day parade, which is always a good time! Learn more about Puppy Gras here.
The Mystic Mutts of Revelry: Fairhope, Alabama Saturday, February 3rd @ 3 PM
The Mystic Mutts of Revelry is another one of our absolute favorite parades! It takes place in downtown Fairhope, Alabama, the cutest town along Mobile Bay. There are cute shops and different places to eat the local flavors. We recommend grabbing lunch at the Cactus Cantina or Wok’d by the Bay. This year’s theme, Paws and Parrotheads: Pooches in Paradise is a nod to Jimmy Buffet. The parade rolls at 3pm but you can make a day of it! Learn more here. You can even book a stay in Downtown Mobile at the Battlehouse Hotel, which you can read about our stay here. We have also stayed at the Key West Inn before too.
Krewe du Chien: Lafayette, LA Saturday, February 3rd @ Noon
This parade takes over downtown Lafayette, LA and rolls on Saturday, February 3rd at Noon. Check out downtown Lafayette and grab lunch after the parade! While you are in town, head over to Caroline’s Cookies to pick up the most delicious cookies you will ever eat. You may want to do this before the parade rolls, as she often sells out, especially on Saturdays!
The Original Krewe of Barkloxi: Sunday, February 4th @ 11 AM
The Original Krewe of Barkloxi rolls on February 4th at 11am. Check out the beaches and some of the dog friendly casinos along the coast before the parade or head to the cute nearby town of Ocean Springs to enjoy shopping. You can stay at the Hyatt Hotel, which is dog friendly. You can learn more here.
Mystic Krewe of Barkus New Orleans: Sunday, February 4th @ 2 PM
The most mystic of krewes, the Mystic Krewe of Barkus celebrates 31 years in New Orleans with this year’s parades! Dogs and their owners take on Armstrong Park and go all out with their attire and floats. This year’s theme is super fun: BARKUS & BARBIE: PAWFECTION IN PINK. You can stay at the Ritz or the Hyatt for dog friendly accommodations. Learn more here.
Krewe du Pooch: Mandeville, LA Saturday, February 17th @ Noon
Out of all the parades on this list, the Krewe du Pooch has the prettiest scenery. The parade route goes along the Mandeville waterfront. There’s plenty of grass and shade. There are restaurants nearby. This is definitely another favorite for Teddy! So many things to sniff! This year’s theme is “Puppy Love”! Learn more here and see the parade schedule here.
Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws: Covington, LA @ 2 PM
Another favorite of ours is the Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws, held in Covington, LA. This year’s parade theme is Bark and Roll. Check out the adorable downtown, historic Covington while taking in the sights of pups dressed in their best rocker looks. One thing we love to do before this parade each year is grab lunch and get there early to walk around downtown. We recommended grabbing lunch at Mugshots Bar and Grill if you want to avoid the crowds at lunch or Abita Roasting Co, which is located downtown right off the parade route. Be prepared for long waits here though! The food at both spots is amazing and both are very dog friendly! Learn more about Mardi Paws here.
Which parades are you looking forward to the most?
