Louisiana Mayor Outlines Changes to Mardi Gras Festivities

(Mamou, Louisiana) - The Town of Mamou is making changes to its Mardi Gras festivities in 2026 after two people were killed and 11 were injured on the streets in 2025.

For decades, thousands of people have flocked to the small town in Evageline Parish for some Mardi Gras fun, but some big changes are being made after the shooting occurred in 2025.

I recently spoke to the Mayor of Mamou, Leisa Deshotel, and she notes that the traditional run will still happen on Mardi Gras day, with those running through the countryside, leaving early on Mardi Gras day, and then they will return to town and have their traditional dance under the only red light in Mamou

The changes coming to Mamou for Marid Grass will be the entertainment on the streets. For years, bands performed on the streets of Downtown Mamou on the Saturday before Mardi Gras, for Lundi Gras, and on Mardi Gras Day. Well, that's not happening in 2026.

While the main street in Downtown Mamou, Sixth Street, will be closed to traffic on those days, most of the entertainment will be in bars or on private property.

I understand that the Town of Mamou will still provide porta-potties, lighting, and security on the streets while celebrations take place on private property in Downtown Mamou.

In addition to these changes in Mamou for 2026 Mardi Gras, KATC reports that there will be no No Limit Riders Mamou Mardi Gras Trailride & Chicken Run in the town of Mamou this year.

City Councilman Derrel Thomas, who organized the trail ride, says this:

"We want to share that there will be no Mardi Gras events hosted this year, including Monday night and Fat Tuesday festivities. This decision was not made lightly."

Security has been a hot topic in Mamou since the tragic shooting in 2025, and Thomas would add this, according to the report by our media partners at KATC TV-3:

A key part of this reset is prioritizing safety, ensuring appropriate planning, and hiring the appropriate number of law enforcement and security personnel to adequately support an event of this size. Hosting events of this scale requires significant time, coordination and financial investment, and this break will allow us to come back stronger, safer and more organized."

While there will be some significant changes to the Mardi Gras festivities in Mamou in 2026, it appears the changes are for this year, and that some of the forms of entertainment that were scratched will return in 2027.