Baton Rouge Daily: Mardi Gras Wrap-Up and What’s Next
Baton Rouge, LA — February 17, 2026 — Mardi Gras winds down with family events, regional parades and a look ahead to spring festivals around the Capital City.
Baton Rouge, LA — February 17, 2026 — Carnival season is wrapping up around the Capital City, with family-friendly events giving way to a busy spring calendar.
Mardi Gras fun for families at Knock Knock Museum
On Monday, the Knock Knock Children’s Museum hosted its annual “Mardi Gras at the Museum,” offering kid-friendly crafts, king cake decorating and a second-line led by LSU musicians. The special Lundi Gras sessions gave younger children a way to experience Carnival traditions without the big crowds and late-night parades.
The museum notes that today, Mardi Gras Day, the building is closed to the general public so staff can reset after the holiday rush. Families who enjoyed the event are being encouraged to watch for more themed programs later this spring.
Area parades roll through the long weekend
Across the greater Baton Rouge area, neighborhood and small-town parades capped off the local Carnival schedule. Weekend lineups included Sunday processions in Port Allen, Livonia, Zachary and Plaquemine, drawing crowds looking for a closer-to-home alternative to New Orleans.
On Lundi Gras, the Krewe of Shenandoah brought floats and marching groups through the St. George area, continuing one of the region’s newest traditions. Today, Mardi Gras Day, many residents are traveling to long-running parades in New Roads and other nearby communities before the season officially comes to a close tonight.
Looking ahead: 225Fest returns downtown
With beads barely swept from downtown streets, attention is already turning to the next big gathering. Organizers of 225Fest say this year’s edition at the end of February will “take over” downtown Baton Rouge with food trucks, local art, live music and resource booths focused on the Capital Region.
The free festival is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, from midday into the afternoon around North Boulevard, giving local vendors and performers another chance to showcase Baton Rouge culture once Carnival season is over.
Teachers gather for energy education workshop
Earlier this month, Baton Rouge also hosted a statewide energy education workshop for middle and high school teachers at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. The training focused on hands-on lessons about electricity and Louisiana’s energy mix, with attendees receiving classroom kits to use with students.
Organizers say the goal is to equip educators with updated science materials just as students head into spring testing and project season.
What’s next
With Mardi Gras ending tonight, many local offices and schools will resume normal schedules on Wednesday. City leaders and event organizers are expected to shift quickly from parade planning to spring festivals, education programs and summer prep across the Capital City.
Sources
- https://knockknockmuseum.org/event/mardi-gras-at-the-museum-session-1/2026-02-16/
- https://wjbo.iheart.com/alternate/amp/calendar/2026-01-13-2026-baton-rouge-area-carnival-schedule/
- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/225fest-2026-tickets-1376502539149
- https://www.need.org/event/2026-louisiana-energy-education-workshop-for-teachers-baton-rouge-la/
