Parades. Balls. Courirs de Mardi Gras: They come in all shapes and sizes. Here's a brief (i.e: far from comprehensive) listing of events large and small happening in communities around the region.

Friday, February 8
• 5 pm, Natchez: Krewe of Phoenix
• 6 pm, New Orleans: Krewe of Hermes and Krewe d'Etat, followed by Morpheus
• 6:30 pm, Lafayette: Friday Night Parade
• 6:30 pm, Slidell: Krewe of Selene
• 7 pm, Baton Rouge: Krewe of Southdowns
• 7 pm, Covington: Krewe of Lyra
• 7 pm, Morgan City: Krewe of Adonis
• Friday—Tuesday, Eunice: Courir de Mardi Gras: Five day celebration includes jam sessions, street dances, cooking demos, Mardi Gras exhibits and special Liberty Theater show. Les Jeunes & Lil' Mardi Gras runs for children on Saturday and Sunday. Old time boucherie on Sunday. Fat Tuesday activities include traditional Courir de Mardi Gras and downtown daylong celebration - live Cajun, Creole and Zydeco music and dancing, food, children's walking parade & return of revelers at 3pm. eunice-la.com/festivals.html.

Saturday, February 9
• 11 am, New Orleans: Krewe of Tucks and Krewe of Iris
• Noon, Baton Rouge: Spanish Town Parade
• Noon, Lockport: Krewe of Apollo
• 2 pm, St. Martinville: Lake Fausse Pointe Parade
• 4:15 pm, New Orleans: Krewe of Endymion
• 6:30 pm: Lafayette: Krewe of Bonaparte

Sunday, February 10
• 11 am, New Orleans: Krewe of Okeanos followed by Mid City and Thoth, uptown.
• 1 pm, St. Martinville: Newcomers Social Civic Club Parade
• 2 pm, Madisonville: Krewe of Tchefuncte
• 2 pm, Morgan City: Krewe of Galatea
• 5:15, New Orleans, Krewe of Bacchus

Monday, February 11
• 2 pm, Patterson: Krewe of Amani
• 6 pm, Lafayette: Queen Parade
• 6 pm, Opelousas: Lundi Gras at the Village: Live Zydeco/Cajun music at historic Le Vieux Village, courtesy of Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie. Festivities all day from 11 am–8 pm.
• 5:15, New Orleans: Krewe of Proteus followed by Orpheus

Mardi Gras Day—Tuesday, February 12
• 8 am, New Orleans: Krewe of Zulu followed by Rex, Elks, and Crescent City
• 9 am, Mamou: Courir de Mardi Gras, an all day affair
• 10 am, Covington: Mardi Gras Day Parade
• 10 am, Lafayette: King Parade, followed by Festival Parade and Independent Parade
• 11 am, Opelousas: Half Fast Krewe of Frank's Parade, plus an all day celebration around Courthouse Square
• 1 pm, Franklin: Mardi Gras Parade
• 2 pm, Morgan City: Krewe of Hephaestus