KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |Mardi Gras Kicks Off In Southwest Louisiana

Mardi Gras Kicks Off In Southwest Louisiana

January 6, 2006
Reported by Vince Atkinson

"Laissez les bon temps rouler!" That was the theme at Friday night's 12th Night celebration at the Lake Charles Civic Center. It is the official start to the Mardi Gras season. Besides kicking Mardi Gras off in style, people at the12th Night celebration were also saying farewell to memories of Hurricane Rita.

One Lake Charles man that attended 12th Night said, "I was not expecting a 12th Night this year because of Hurricane Rita, but I am here, and we are having a great time." After all the talk of canceling Mardi Gras after Hurricane Rita you might expect some of the costumes to be toned down, but local Mardi Gras krewes decided to pull out all the stops.

One local krewe member said, "We are just going to forget about Rita, and everybody is just going to have a good old time."  As usual, the official start of the Mardi Gras season went off without a hitch, putting an end to any concerns about Mardi Gras being canceled this year.