Stage Set for Mardi Gras and Bassmaster

With Mardi Gras season fast approaching, preparations are being made for countless parades, parties, balls, festivals, and neighborhood celebrations in Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana's Other Side. 

Carnival festivities begin with the 12th Night Celebration Saturday, January 7, and continue until the midnight Texas Street Bridge Closing Ceremony on Fat Tuesday, February 21. 

Shreveport-Bossier's major parade weekends will feature the Krewe of Centaur which will roll on Febuary 11, and the Krewe of Gemini which will roll on Febuary 18. These two parades typically draw some 400,000 people to experience the fun and pageantry of Mardi Gras. Both parades commence at 4pm starting at East King's Highway Park in the Broadmoor neighborhood and ending on Clyde Fant Parkway in downtown Shreveport.

One aspect of Shreveport-Bossier's Mardi Gras season which sets it apart from many is the variety of parades and celebrations held annually.

On the weekend following one of Shreveport-Bossier's major Mardi Gras parades, the Bassmaster Classic returns to the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier, February 24 to 26. This event, billed as "the Super Bowl of bass fishing," will be one of the largest sporting events ever held in the region. 

The Bassmaster Classic is the ultimate competition in professional bass fishing. This spectacular three-day event - complete with a theatrical presentation of the weigh-ins and hours of television coverage - delights fans of all ages. The 2012 Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo, featuring more than 150 vendors, will be held at the Shreveport Convention Center.

For a directory of local resources, including maps to key Bassmaster Classic locations and more, visit www.bassmasterclassic2012.com .   

For more information about Mardi Gras in Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana's Other Side, visit www.shreveport-bossier.org.

For more information about top events in Louisiana take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Louisiana.