Mardi Gras

Laissez les bon temps rouler à Little Rock! Mardi Gras in Little Rock is celebrated by two major community events, both with a flair inspired by Arkansas’s neighbors to the south.

Little Rock’s annual Mardi Gras events make a perfect highlight of any early-spring visit to the city. Visitors are quick to see that Little Rock puts its own unique stamp on iconic Mardi Gras celebrations.

THE 16TH ANNUAL SOMARDI GRAS CELEBRATION IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 21, 2026.

SoMardi Gras

GET READY TO LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL AT "SOMARDI GRAS LAISSEZ LOVE ROULER" AS SOMARDI GRAS RETURNS TO LITTLE ROCK'S SOUTH MAIN (SoMa) DISTRICT.

Held annually to coincide with Mardi Gras festivities, SoMardi Gras is the SoMa (South Main Street) neighborhood’s ode to the New Orleans-style holiday parade. Each year, the parade takes on a different theme, with floats, parade entrants, local businesses, and even spectators going all in with special costumes and decorations.

After the parade concludes, the party keeps rolling at the nearby Bernice Garden, where local musicians, food trucks, vendors, and – yes really – a beard-growing competition all come together to make the best block party in town. SoMardi Gras and the atmosphere it inspires shows why SoMa is one of Little Rock’s most exciting and unique neighborhoods.

For more information on the event, click here.

Barkus on Main

Billing itself as a “parade of pet proportions,” Barkus on Main is a Mardi Gras festival geared toward the four-legged members of the family. Though it’s Little Rock’s largest Mardi Gras event, Barkus on Main is held in April of each year, regardless of when the holiday falls, so as to ensure perfect weather for our furry friends. Although the event is free to attend, dogs wishing to strut their stuff on Little Rock’s biggest catwalk must have their humans pay a registration fee in advance of the event.

Aside from the parade itself, the event features entertainment for both two and four-legged attendees, beer and hurricane stations, Cajun-inspired food, local vendors showcasing pet-inspired products, and, of course, more beads than you can wag your tail at.

For more information on the event, click here.

A decorated dachshund in a colorful costume sits in a wagon, surrounded by festive streamers.

Other Events

Explore More