Welcome to Mardi Gras 2012!
Mardi Gras in the heart of Louisiana kicks off its Nineteenth
year. The Alexandria Mardi Gras Association (AMGA) is working
throughout the year to make this celebration one of the best
cultural and social events in Central Louisiana.
The AMGA is pleased to present this site as a source of information
about a major cultural event in Alexandria for Central Louisiana.
Join us as we celebrate the traditions and heritage of Mardi
Gras in Louisiana!
Visit our 2012 Collectibles
page for information about 2012 collectible items.
The Free Zone is back this year
and will be as fun filled as last year, with free popcorn and
bottled water, face painting, jumpers, chalk art and music in
one of the best viewing places on the parade route.
BG Clarence KK Chinn
2012 Grand Marshal
CCCC Parade
Josh Mercer
Special Guest of Honor
CCCC Parade
Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim
International Guest of Honor
Children's Parade
February 17 - 19 : Carnival Season 2012
Please enjoy this 5:30 slideshow
of the 2010 Mardi Gras festivities created by Melva Terrel
Villard
On Friday, February 17, the College Cheerleaders/Classic Cars Parade
will kick off the 19th Anniversary of Alexandria's family-oriented
Mardi Gras weekend. The 5th annual College Cheerleaders/Classic
Cars Parade, sponsored by Hixson Autoplex, will begin at 4:30
p.m. and will follow the same route as Saturday's Children's
Parade in downtown Alexandria. It will feature classic cars
paired with college cheerleaders from colleges and universities
in Louisiana and Arkansas. In 2011, the AMGA began including high
school and middle school cheer squads from Rapides Parish.
Taste of Mardi Gras was created in 1997 as a fundraiser for the
Cenla Chapter of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. The first
year, it was held in conjunction with the grand opening of the Alexandria
Riverfront Center. It has grown tremendously from approximately
350 in attendance to over 3,500. The date of the event coincides
with the Alexandria Mardi Gras weekend to offer visitors a Friday
night event immediately following the CC/CC parade offering visitors
another reason to come early to celebrate Mardi Gras in the Heart
of Louisiana.
Each year the Alexandria Mardi Gras Association chooses persons
of distinction who have positive impacts on the quality of life
in Louisiana to serve as Grand Marshals. The 2012 Krewe Parade Grand
Marshail is David Luck. The 2012 Grand
Marshal of the CC/CC parade is BG Clarence
KK Chinn with Josh Mercer as Special Guest of Honor. The 2012
Children's Parade Grand Marshal is Justine
Ker, 2011 Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen along with International
Guest of Honor, Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim.
The goal of the AMGA is to provide a cultural event, appealing to
all cross sections of the community, state and region, to help stimulate
the economy.
For additional information, please contact the individual listed
as chairman under each event or AMGA President, Chris Chelette at
(318) 443-1200 ext. 108 or (318) 623-7359.
