While New Orleans might have the more famous Mardi Gras parades, Shreveport holds its own raucous celebrations in February and March. The exact dates vary depending on which day Lent falls. The Krewe of Gemini and the Krewe of Centaur each run a major parade through the streets of Shreveport, with a different theme each year. For a celebration of all things Cajun, check out the annual Mudbug Madness festival held over Memorial Day weekend at Festival Plaza. The annual four-day event includes crawfish eating contests and concerts by blues, jazz and Zydeco musicians. Of course, you’ll be able to munch on Louisiana-centric food such as po' boys and fried alligator on a stick. The State Fair of Louisiana takes place over three weeks beginning in late October. Highlights include carnival rides, a rodeo and livestock shows.
Try your luck in Shreveport. The Eldorado Resort Casino Shreveport and Sam's Town Hotel & Casino both offer roulette, blackjack, craps, craps no more, mini baccarat, Texas hold ‘em poker, let-it-ride poker, three-card poker and slot machines. Additionally, Eldorado features casino war, Caribbean stud poker and a 5-card poker game called flop poker, while Sam’s offers four-card poker, and Mississippi stud. Get a facial or an exfoliating brown sugar body polish at the casinos' spas.
Shreveport isn’t just a destination for adults. The Sci-Port: Louisiana's Science Center makes the sciences and math exciting, with nearly 300 exhibits. The stations teach about the human body, physical science and the universe. Additionally, see an astronomy show at the planetarium. The Jubilee Zoo lets you stroke llamas and other friendly animals at its petting zoo, as well as go on pony rides. To cool off, head to the Splash Kingdom Waterpark, which features water slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, a lagoon area for swimming and a “Kid’s Kastle” section geared for younger children.
College football fans enjoy the annual AdvoCare V100 Bowl -- formerly called the Independence Bowl -- held in late December at Independence Stadium. The game pits teams from major conferences against each other. Performing arts lovers have a range of performances to check out. The Strand, Louisiana’s official state theater, presents Broadway-style shows such as “West Side Story,” tribute concerts to music legends like the Beatles and touring ballet companies. Music lovers can go to the Shreveport Opera, which puts on three main productions a season.
