BASTROP, Texas — Experience Mardi Gras without heading to the Bayou State with a two-day celebration in Bastrop.

What You Need To Know

  • Celebrate Mardi Gras in Bastrop, Texas, with a two-day celebration on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1

  • Festivities include a ball, a parade, live music, food and more

  • Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, falls on March 4 this year

Bastrop TX Mardi Gras is an annual event that brings Cajun culture to the heart of Texas. Here’s the schedule of events.

Friday, Jan. 31

The Cajun Mardi Gras Ball kicks off the festivities on Friday at 7 p.m. The ball will feature Cajun flair, music, culture and a night of dancing.

Saturday, Feb. 1

On Saturday, the festivities continue with a “Salute to Fred’s Lounge” honoring the historic watering hole in Mamou, Louisiana.

Afterwards, a Mardi Gras Parade at 10 a.m. will incorporate aspects of the traditional Courir celebration in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana. See the parade route here.

Then, get ready to eat good with a gumbo cookoff benefiting Bastop Juneteenth. A donation to the organization buys guests a taste testing ticket and a chance to vote for the best gumbo.

Kids activities at the festival include face painting, bounce houses, a Chicken Chase and more. The Chicken Chase takes place at Ascension Catholic Church at 1 p.m.

Live music brings guests together for a “Fais do do,” or a dance party. It’s a Cajun and Zydeco cultural gathering symbolizing a lively occasion for the community.

The music lineup includes:

  • DJ T-Rob
  • Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys
  • Jean Pierre & The Zydeco Angels
  • Leroy Thomas & The Zydeco Roadrunners
  • Jamie Bergeron & The Kickin' Cajuns

Food

Downtown Bastrop businesses will pay homage to Louisiana by serving up Cajun classics throughout the two-day celebration. Offerings include gumbo, etouffee, fried okra, po’ boys, oysters, muffuletta sandwiches, beignets, daiquiris, boudin on a stick, king cake cupcakes, special cocktails and more. Details here.

Participating locations include:

  • 602 Brewing Company
  • CAFF Coffee + Kitchen
  • CC Wine + Co.
  • C&S Cigar Lounge
  • Copper Shot Distillery
  • “Gracie’s” - The Grace Miller
  • Neighbor’s Kitchen & Yard
  • Piney Creek Chop House
  • Smoked Love BBQ
  • Stem & Stone Street Eats
  • Storehouse Market & Eatery
  • Sunshine Sister Coffee Co.
  • The Old Town Restaurant & Bar
  • Tough Cookie Bakery

According to the Mardi Gras New Orleans website, Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, falls on March 4 this year. The date fluctuates each year but always occurs on the last day of the Carnival season and the day before Ash Wednesday.