The Mardi Gras season started Tuesday night with the 30th annual Twelfth Night Parade Extravaganza at the Lake CHarles Civic Center. Mardi Gras makes its flamboyant entrance with the Twelfth Night Parade Extravaganza inside the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. There will be a lively, mini-parade featuring members of Krewe of Krewes under the direction of Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana.

The audience has a chance to win grand prizes, dance and hail the kings and queens of more than 60 krewes. Guests in the Twelfth Night audience, who find "babies" in their pieces of King Cake, win lavish grand prizes which will include prizes from local merchants and businesses of Southwest Louisiana.