The 11th Annual Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Festival is family friendly and free to the public. It features continuous live music of various genres, a Vendor’s Village and Food Court filled with festival food favorites for this annual celebration. Lawn seating, so bring your chairs. 

This year’s lineup to date features blues, soul, R&B, reggae, gospel, jazz, pop/rock, spoken word and comedy. Performers to date include Henry Turner, Jr. & Flavor, The Listening Room All-Stars including Kelton ‘Nspire Harper, Ervin “Maestro Foster and comedian Eddie “Cool” Deemer. Festival favorites are SmokeHouse and Mamie Porter, John “The Boss Man” Hall, the Phoenix Rouge Dance Troupe and Big Queen Tonya Ball Sylvas. New this year are the Zydeco band Double Trouble, King Solomon and Two Crows for Comfort. More acts will be announced closer to the date. The documentary “We’re Going Down to the Mardi Gras” will also be screened at the River Center Library across the street from the festival stage at 2:30, 3:30 and 5:00pm. It is history of the event, narrated by festival founder Henry Turner Jr. 

VIP packages are $50.00 and include 2 meal tickets for the ‘Taste of Louisiana’ VIP tent, 2 non-alcoholic drink tickets, a CD of “Now” by Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor and additional giveaways. 

Big Chief Packages are $100 and include 4 meal and 4 non-alcoholic drink tickets for two people, 2 alcohol tickets, a CD of “Now” by Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor, covered seating, photo ops and additional giveaways.