Schedule Of Events:

January 6th, 2024

12th Night

Doors open at 5:15 pm. Petitioning begins at 5:30 pm. Procession to follow.

Each year, the 12th night after Christmas marks the beginning of the Mardi Gras season. The night kicks off with our Board of Directors converging in a cozy corner of Soulard to decide whether to order the commencement of Mardi Gras, while local leaders, politicians and krewes petition with their best performances and bribes of liquid refreshment.

The board votes after a heated and often raucous debate, and then make the official proclamation that we will have yet another Mardi Gras season in Soulard. Luckily for us, throughout the decades that we've hosted Mardi Gras, the board has voted unanimously in favor of Mardi Gras.

After that, our collection of party pros and dignitaries marches throughout the Soulard neighborhood and raising the Mardi Gras flag to fly proudly over the Soulard neighborhood throughout the Mardi Gras season.

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Bos Family Winter Carnival And Shoebox Float Gallery

(Entrance will be on Broadway, one block East)

Free and family friendly

Break the cabin fever and bring the kids out to the Bank of Springfield Family Winter Carnival at Lift For LIfe Academy Elementary School. They'll get to enjoy a variety of arts and crafts projects as well as performers including:

Making your own mask, cape, and crown
Making your own noise maker
Magicians
Stilt walkers, jugglers, balloon artists, and more
Make a Shoebox Float to enter in the BOS Shoebox Float Online Gallery
Free popcorn and Coca Cola products
Giveaways from Bank of Springfield (BOS)
And don't forget about the Childrens Parade at 3:00 p.m. led by the BOS Mascot when kids can wear their capes, crowns, and masks; use their noise makers and throw beads!

This is an alcohol-free event

January 20, 2024

Ford's Gin Scavenger Hunt

The Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Soulard Pub Crawl

11:30 AM - the Hunt Starts

Soulard Neighborhood
$125 per team
Your team can have a max of 6 people.

Explore Soulard (on foot!) on a fun-filled Saturday afternoon.
Journey with your team through Soulard an its famous hangs where you'll answer questions and perform challenges. Along the way, you'll try to rack up as many points as you can to claim The Grand Prize!

The Grand Prize
$1,000 in gift cards to Soulard Bars!

Post-hunt Party
After your fun-filled day of Soulard shenanigans celebrate with your teammates at the South Broadway Athletic Club from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Buy Tickets

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Cajun Cook-Off

Bud Light Party Centre in Soulard Market Park

Talented amateur chefs from across the area face off, preparing their best dishes for a panel of hungry and highly discerning judges.

This year, every ticket gets you the kitchen pass experience!

Buy Tickets

Admission to the event includes:

Authentic Cajun Lunch Buffet
Full open bar
Live Music
Cooking Demonstrations– with samples!
Master mixologist Demonstrations - with samples too!

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Supplement Superstores Run For Your Beads 5k

Starting Time: 9:00 am
Soulard – Starts at 8th and Lafayette

Registration fee:
$40 November 28 - January 24
$45 after January 25

There is only one race that is as fun-filled, colorful and slightly wacky as Mardi Gras: The Supplement Superstores Run for Your Beads 5K. That means you'll enjoy all the fun and historic scenery of Soulard with mid-race pitstop stocked with  hurricanes for legally aged runners. Make sure to dress in your best Mardi Gras garb, because in addition to prizes for the winners of each division, we'll be honoring the runner with the best costume.

After the race, you can join us for Taste of Soulard. Because, after running so hard, you'll have earned the chance to chow down on some tasty Cajun cuisine. Sign up now, or register at the Bud Light Party Centre (at 9th and Lafayette) at 7:30am on the day of the event.

Click Here To Register

Saturday, February 3 and Sunday, February 4

11:00 am – 5:00 pm - Taste Of Soulard

Booklet Pickup:

If you pre-purchased a booklet, you MUST redeem your electronic pre-sale ticket Saturday, Feb 3 from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the Soulard Market Plaza (8th and Lafayette), regardless of which day (February 3 or 4) you elect to use your drink and food vouchers.

There will be NO pre-sale booklet pick up available on Sunday, February 4.

Booklets may be purchased Saturday, Feb 3 or Sunday, Feb 4 at any participating establishment.

Passes: $35

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Sunday, February 4, 2024

1:00 pm - Purina Pet Parade

Registration: 10:00 am

Parade: 1:00 pm

Begins at 12th and Allen

Registration Fee: $10 donation
 
Free for spectators to watch the parade

At the world's largest costumed pet parade, we combine all the fun of Mardi Gras with all the AWWWWs that the most adorable parade participants deserve. It is free to watch and easy to head straight to the Taste of Soulard or Wiener Dog Derby after the parade wraps up.

If you have a precious pet who belongs in the parade, register your furry friend beforehand online or on the day of the event at 12th and Allen so you both can strut your stuff in style. The best dressed pets will be selected as members of the Court of the Mystical Krewe of Barkus and will be invited to the Coronation Pageant at Soulard Market Park where the King and Queen of Barkus will be crowned.

All proceeds from the Purina Pet Parade will benefit Open Door Animal Sanctuary.

Click Here For Parade Information

Sunday, February 4, 2024

1:45 pm - Tito's Vodka Wiener Dog Derby

Registration: Opens at 10:00 am

Opening Ceremonies: 1:45 pm

First Heat: 2:00 pm

Location: Horseshoe Casino Stadium in Soulard Market Park

Entry Fee: $10 donation

Online Registration closes at Noon on February 2nd.

Registration is available the day of the event.

Your wiener has been working hard all offseason for this, and now the time has arrived for the nation's longest-running wiener dog derby! Participants square off  at Soulard Market to determine the dashingest dachshund in all of the land.

As usual, in a series of six-dog elimination heats, competitors race down a 30-foot track with the winning wiener moving on to the next round until a champion is crowned. However, there will be a Tito's Wiener Dog Derby hat contest (for hoomans only) so make sure you come dressed for the derby!

There are four age-based classes for participating pups.

Cocktail Wieners: Up to 4 years old
Hot Dogs: 4-8 years old
Ball Park Franks: 8 years and older
Wiener Wannabe: Dogs small enough to fit in the starting box

Registration is available the day of the event, but in order to avoid a distracted dachshund, register online and hit the ground running on race day.

Click Here To Register

Friday, February 9, 2024

Mayor's Mardi Gras Ball

Time: 7:00 pm to Midnight
The Midway at St. Louis Union Station

General Admission, VIP access, and tables available for purchase

The Mayor's Ball, which ALIVE Magazine and the Riverfront Times have called the "social event of the season," is a must-attend gala that combines the elegance of the setting with the striking visuals of Mardi Gras. It features fine cuisine, cocktails, dancing and entertainment ranging from traditional to spectacular.

This charitable event is hosted by the Mardi Gras Foundation, and the proceeds go to create community grants that have shown demonstrable benefits to the Soulard and Downtown communities since 2003.

Buy Tickets

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Bud Light Grand Parade

Parade Starts: 11:00 am
Soulard Neighborhood

Free Event
This event is the crown jewel of the Soulard Mardi Gras season and is the biggest parade outside of the Big Easy. It begins at Busch Stadium and proceeds through the streets of Downtown South and Soulard to the place where your beer was born: Anheuser-Busch Brewery.

Please use the designated festival entry points:
13th and Russell (Rideshare drop off point)
9th and Ann
Lafayette and Tucker

Buy Tickets For Bud Light Grand Parade

Saturday, February 10, 2024:

9:00 am – 6:00 pm - Bud Light Party Tent

Regular Price: $150

You shouldn’t have to choose between being along the parade route, warming up from the cold, a dance floor with body-moving beats, a restroom without a line and being able to grab a drink whenever you need one.  

That's why the all-inclusive Bud Light Party Tent is THE place to be for over 8 hours of beer, beats and booze in a climate-controlled tent. You get more Mardi Gras for your money here, including:

Fully stocked open bar with Bud Light, plus premium spirits
Cajun lunch buffet
Live entertainment (announcement coming soon!)
Heated tents one block from the Bud Light Grand Parade route
Unlimited re-entry
Private restrooms
FREE BEADS!

9:00 am - 5:00 pm - Sunset Hills Subaru Blues Alumni Experience

Party Tent Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Regular Price: $150

If you ever wanted to rub elbows with Blues legends at St. Louis’ biggest party, then we have exactly what you’re looking for. At the Sunset Hills Subaru Blues Alumni Party Tent, your all-inclusive pass lets you hang out with some of the best to ever don the Blue Note in a climate-controlled tent.
 
An all-inclusive Blues Alumni Party Tent pass includes

Open bar with beer and cocktails
NSFW story time with Blues legends
Lunch buffet
This year we're BACK on the parade route with a front row view of the Bud Light Grand Parade

Buy Tickets For Sunset Hills Subaru Blues Alumni Experience

Date: Jan 6-Feb 10, 2024

Location: Various Venue, Saint Louis, MO

Click Here For More Information