It’s the most wonderful time of the year for many Louisianans, Mardi Gras season and that includes our furry friends! For pups in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and along the Gulf Coast, there are several opportunities to let the good times roll this Mardi Gras season. Pet parades are a fun way to celebrate the season. People and their pets dress in costumes and festive attire, decorate their strollers, and even build floats! Keep reading to learn more about 5 pet parades that you won’t want to miss this Mardi Gras season.
CAPITAL AREA ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY (CAAWS) KREWE OF MUTTS: BATON ROUGE, LA- SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2022 @ 2PM
The CAAWS Krewe of Mutts is always one of our favorite events of the year! Each year, tons of local dogs gather in Downtown Baton Rouge to walk in or watch the parade. Vendors and food trucks are set up downtown and there is plenty of green space for potty breaks! This parade is CAAWS largest fundraiser of the year and all proceeds help support their spay and neuter program. This year’s theme is Back In The Saddle. Learn more about the parade and CAAWS here.
MYSTIC KREWE OF MARDI PAWS: COVINGTON, LA- SUNDAY, MARCH 6TH @ 2PM.
The Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws rolls on Sunday, March 6th in downtown Covington, Louisiana. This is also one of our favorite parades. Enjoy historic downtown Covington and take in the sights of dogs in costumes related to this year’s parade theme: 80’s Pawp Culture! This parade is usually hosted by the Ian Somerhalder Foundation and other local non-profits. Last year, Ian was the Celebrity Monarch. The year before, it was Matt Davis of Legally Blonde, Vampire Diaries and The Legacies. 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.
KREWE DU POOCH: MANDEVILLE, LA- SATURDAY, MARCH 5TH @ NOON.
Krewe Du Pooch rolls on Saturday, March 5th at Noon along the Mandeville Lakefront, one of our favorite places. We haven’t been to this parade before but it is along the beautiful lake. There are lots of places to eat, tons of green space, beautiful oak trees and homes to see. We recommend eating at The Barley Oak and making time for a long walk along the waterfront before or after the parade. This year’s theme is “A Fairy Tail”. Learn more about Krewe Du Pooch here.
KREWE OF BARKUS: NEW ORLEANS, LA- SUNDAY,FEBRUARY 20TH, @ 2PM.
The Krewe of Barkus is infamous in Louisiana! We haven’t been able to make one but we hear this is one parade that you don’t wanna miss! This year’s theme is Barkingham Palace: Going For The Crown.
Proceeds from Barkus will benefit
- Animal Rescue New Orleans
- Jefferson SPCA
- Gulf South Golden Retriever Rescue
- Gulf Coast Doberman Rescue
- Humane Society of Louisiana
- Southern Animal Foundation
- SULA Foundation
- Louisiana Search and Rescue Team
- Louisiana SPCA
- Zeus’ Rescue
MYSTIC KREWE OF SALTY PAWS: DAUPHIN, AL- SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH @ 10 AM
Enjoy a weekend at the beach with a side of a pet parade with the Mystic Krewe of Salty Paws! This parade rolls at 10 am on Saturday, February 10th with the Life’s a Beach theme. Proceeds for entries benefit the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), one of our favorite rescues! Learn more about the event here and here.
MUTTS OF REVELRY: FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA- SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH @ 3PM
Fairhope, Alabama is one of our favorite places to visit. It is on Mobile Bay and is full of dog friendly shopping and restaurants. The Mystic Mutts of Revelry will roll in downtown Fairhope, AL on Saturday, Februrary 19th. You can grab lunch at Wok’d by the Bay or Cactus Cantina. Enjoy a walk around Mobile Bay with your pup! 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.
PUPPY GRAS: GULF SHORES, ALABAMA- SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH @ 11 AM – 5PM
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 ORIGINAL KREWE OF BARKLOXI: BILOXI, MS- SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH @ NOON
The Original Krewe of Barkloxi rolls on Sunday, February 20th at Noon in Biloxi, MS. You can enjoy the beaches of Biloxi or head to cute and quaint Ocean Springs before or after the parade.
Have you attended any of these pet parades or does your city have one? Did we miss any along the Gulf Coast? Tell us below!
