By Stacey Tinsley, Bossier Press-Tribune
The Mardi Gras season officially got underway in Northwest Louisiana on Saturday, Jan. 3, with a day of tradition, faith and festivity marking the start of Carnival.
The celebration began with a Mardi Gras Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Shreveport. Open to the public, the Mass brought community members together for reflection and fellowship, honoring the spiritual roots of the season ahead of weeks filled with parades, balls and celebrations. Following the service, attendees gathered for a King Cake reception at the Petroleum Club in Shreveport, continuing a longtime tradition that blends faith with local culture.
Later that evening, the focus shifted to the Bossier Civic Center in Bossier City, where the Krewe of Centaur and the Krewe of Gemini hosted the annual 12th Night Celebration. Doors opened at 6 p.m., with the program beginning at 8 p.m., as revelers filled the venue to mark the official close of the Christmas season and the ceremonial start of the Mardi Gras “Carnival” season.
“Twelfth Night is when the Mardi Gras season really comes alive,” said Krewe of Gemini Captain Cole Guthrie. “It’s a high-energy celebration because it’s the moment we officially kick off the season. Everyone’s in full Mardi Gras attire, the music is going, the dance floor is full, and you can feel the excitement in the room. It’s a night where our community really comes together with all our local-area krewes to celebrate the start of Mardi Gras.”
The 12th Night Celebration, a cornerstone event for the region, signaled the beginning of Mardi Gras festivities across Northwest Louisiana. The evening set the tone for the weeks ahead, highlighting the pageantry, community pride and shared traditions that define the local Carnival season.
With both season kick off events concluded, organizers and attendees alike now turn their attention to the busy Mardi Gras calendar ahead, as parades, balls and community gatherings prepare to roll through the region in the coming weeks.