Courir de Mardi Gras Mamou LA 2023

The Courir de Mardi Gras festivities originated in medieval France. The fête begins on Lundi Gras on the main street of Mamou LA in front of historic Fred's Lounge and the Hotal Cazan where we stayed. On Fat Tuesday, the riders in their masks and colorful fringed costumes gather just after dawn at the American Legion Hall. (For some, the non-stop party began the night before.) The traditional courir-the French word for run-is led by the capitaine and his team (the adults in the room so to speak.) The masked horseback riders are followed by more participants in cars, pickups and barbecue pit trailers, all riding/driving through the rural countryside, stopping for chicken chasing or playing in the mud. The caravan includes a top flight Cajun band in a shanty on wheels, providing a non-stop authentic, amplified, energetic soundtrack to the day. It was a remarkable experience.