Mardi Gras Season Starts Here! Jan. 6. BOS Family Winter Carnival and Shoebox Float Gallery. JAN 18. February Fords Gin Scavenger Hunt. FEB. 8. Cajun Cook-Off. FEB. 15. Run For Your Beads 5K. FEB. 22. Verizon Taste of Soulard. FEB. 22-23. Purina Pet Parade. FEB. 23. Tito’s Vodka Wiener Dog Derby. FEB. 23. Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball. FEB. 28 Boasting one of the best year-round patios in St. Louis, Molly’s in Soulard is the perfect stop on your Mardi Gras journey. The adventurous eaters in your group will gravitate toward dishes such as Molly’s famous alligator Rangoon, Cajun-fried deviled eggs and the cochon de lait sandwich made with Creole-style pulled pork, pickled red St. Louis’ Mardi Gras attendance peaked around 500,000 people in 1999, he said, and that was across all of the Mardi Gras events, which start with 12th Night on Jan. 6 and end on Fat Tuesday. 4. You shouldn’t pick up beads off the ground and wear them. Once beads “hit the ground, they're considered dead and bad luck,” Cullifer said. Mardi Gras in St. Louis is one of the country’s biggest parties. Thousands of people fill the historic French neighborhood, Soulard, and enjoy an array of events over the course of several weeks, ranging from scavenger hunts and a 5K run to a wiener dog derby and pet parade. The first Mardi Gras celebration in St. Louis dates back to 1857. Since St. Louis was founded by French settlers in the late 18th century, the city has maintained its strong French-Catholic roots. The most popular Mardi Gras celebrations take place in another French-settled place, New Orleans, so it is no surprise that the tradition took hold Mardi Gras celebration in St. Louis began with four friends who wanted something to do after a snowstorm in 1980 ; The Grand Parade was only a Soulard neighborhood event that grew in the 1990s due to unseasonably warm weather; In 1999, nonprofits Mardi Gras, Inc., and the Mardi Gras Foundation were formed to run and organize the parade and The Soulard Mardi Gras in St. Louis is one of the largest and most vibrant Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States, second only to New Orleans. The 2025 season promises weeks of lively parades, unique themed events, pet-friendly gatherings, and plenty of food and drink, drawing thousands to St. Louis’s historic Soulard neighborhood. Ah, Mardi Gras. The lively, sometimes rowdy tradition whose origins can be traced all the way back to 1699. When people think of Mardi Gras, New Orleans might be the first thing that comes to mind, but St. Louis has been participating in the festivities since the early 1980’s. Locals and vis How did Mardi Gras become popular in St. Louis? Although the tradition of Mardi Gras began in the U.S. in the early 1700s, it took almost 300 years for Missouri to join in on the festivities. These events range from the family friendly Winter Carnival to the adult-only Taste of Soulard pub crawl. Even the family pets can get in the Mardi Gras spirit at the Purina Pet Parade and the Wiener Dog Derby. The St. Louis Mardi Gras festival is one of the largest Mardi Gras celebrations outside of New Orleans. There is something for everyone! Welcome to Soulard Mardi Gras! Home of the Bud Light Grand Parade, Purina Pet Parade, and much more. 1511 S 10th Street: 10th & Marion (St. Vincent De Paul) 1822 The 2025 St. Louis Mardi Gras present the largest Mardi Gras parade outside the City of New Orleans, the Bud Light Grand Parade. The parade begins at Busch Stadium at 11am and runs south on Broadway through Soulard to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Welcome to Soulard Mardi Gras! Home of the Bud Light Grand Parade, Purina Pet Parade, and much more. Rally your krew today and let the good times roll at the Mardi Gras Soulard celebration! Bud Light Party Tent. Saturday, March 1, 2025: 9:00 am – 5:30 pm Bud Light Party Centre & Activation Tent (Soulard Market Park & Plaza - 8th & Lafayette) Get ready for the ultimate Mardi Gras party in the Bud Light Party Tent! For many WashU students, Mardi Gras is a rare reason to wake up early on a Saturday. Students travel to downtown St. Louis to party in a crowd — and maybe power through a 3 p.m. hangover. While students may spend three or four hours in Soulard, the planning that goes into Mardi Gras reflects 5,000 hours of volunteer work throughout the year. Mardi Gras is a big deal in St. Louis – our French connection runs deeper than just the street names. Get ready for a weekend full of celebrations, from parades to parties, all filled with plenty of food and drink. It all leads up to Fat Tuesday on March 4 – here are 10 spots hosting celebrations in and around St. Louis. The 2025 Mardi Gras Grand Parade will be held in Soulard on Saturday, March 1, 2025. This large neighborhood festival requires multiple street closures to ensure the safety of the residents and visitors. ST. LOUIS – The month of March starts with a Mardi-Party for St. Louis! Thousands gathered Saturday to celebrate the return of the city’s annual Mardi Gras parade. Branded as the Bud Light The right way to do Mardi Gras in St. Louis is to participate in more than just the one Saturday since there are events most weekends from 12th Night (Jan 6) to the Saturday Party Party. Here is a link to the event schedule. I highly recommend going out the weekend before the Mardi Gras Saturday for the Taste of Soulard! It’s what St. Louisans who haven’t been to a real Krewe parade and have only been to bourbon street think Mardi Gras is. It’s a street party where the bars set up booths on the curb and people wander from bar to bar.
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