The Courir de Mardi Gras in Church Point is a traditional Cajun Mardi Gras where costumed men chase chickens at various homes and eventually make their way into the town with the parade of floats and trail riders. At the end of the parade, the chickens are cooked into a gumbo to be shared by the community as the tradition goes. The Courir de Mardi Gras takes place every year on the Sunday before Mardi Gras. A Children’s Courir and parade take place the day before on Saturday.
The Church Point Courir de Mardi Gras is one of the longest running courirs since its revival in 1968. That year, the decision to have Church Point Mardi Gras on the Sunday before Fat Tuesday was the result of a coin toss between the capitaines of Church Point and Mamou. Now, thousands of people attend both events which are considered to be the largest traditional Courir de Mardi Gras celebrations in Acadiana.
From a statement by the Church Point Police Department, the parade route is as follows:
The Children’s Mardi Gras Parade sponsored by the Saddle Tramp Riders Club will roll downtown Church Point on February 18, 2023, at 1 pm. The route inside the Corporate Limits will be from the Town Limits on La 95 South which is S Main St in front of Napa down Main St to Rue Iry Lejeune which is the location of the Central Park and Depot. The parade will turn right on Rue Iry Lejeune to Rogers St where it will turn on S Rogers St and head South to East Ebey St. The parade will then turn left onto East Ebey St and head east and end at the Saddle Tramp Riders Club house. During this time several streets will be shut down and we are asking people to plan accordingly their routes.
On Sunday February 19, 2023, is the Saddle Tramp Courier De Mardi Gras the route inside the corporate limits of Church Point will follow the same route as the children’s parade listed above. The parade is scheduled to enter the Town Limits at 2 pm. The parade route from Robert St and South Main St to Rue Iry Lejeune will be shut down to thru traffic starting at 8 am on February 19 2023 and will remain closed until cleanup is complete later that evening. No traffic will be allowed on Main St in those areas from 8 am until it is reopened later that night. Please plan your events accordingly as no exceptions will be made once the barricades are locked in. Traffic will be allowed to cross over S Main at Canal St until the parade enters Town then will be shut off.
For more information on how to take part in Church Point Courir de Mardi Gras or Children’s Courir, please visit the official website.
