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BEAUMONT — Mardi Gras Southeast Texas has a new home — Doggett Ford Park.

The upcoming event will be held Feb. 28 to March 2 with the theme “Life’s A Beach” at the center, 5115 I-10, Beaumont.

Mardi Gras Southeast Texas is going on its 33rd year. It is a celebration of tradition and pageantry that emphasizes community, family and quality of life activities, according to a news release from OVG’s Claudio Oliveira, General Manager of Doggett Ford Park.

The 2025 event includes parades, KidzLand, wiener dog races, a block party on the plaza, masquerade balls, several marquee concerts and a vibrant celebration of Mardi Gras activities. Visit the food court for some rich festival favorites like king cakes, funnel cakes, gumbo, crawfish and much more or take a walk through the art, crafts and novelty vendors. Concert headliners and parade information will be announced as the event gets closer.

“We look forward to hosting a well-known and family-friendly event like Mardi Gras Southeast Texas here at our complex. It will be a wonderful three-day event as we Let the Good Times Roll in 2025,” Oliveira said.

Laura Childress, president of Mardi Gras Southeast Texas Inc., said “Mardi Gras Southeast Texas is relocating the annual festivities to Doggett Ford Park, but the event’s core mission remains firmly rooted in supporting the founding non-profit 501c4 organizations who provide essential services and benefits to those at need here in our community. We will stage a family oriented affair, promote interaction among diverse ethnic groups and serve as an economic development project for Southeast Texas. MGSETX is dedicated to helping others and creating safe and memorable experiences for everyone involved.”

Childress said they are excited about the new home and the opportunities it provides. 

“We are going forward to a great year at the new facility and adding some new and more attractions,” she said. 

Childress said Mardi Gras will have the same events as before such as concerts, parades, food vendors, arts and crafts. 

“The only difference is there will be no carnival rides but we still have a KidzLand area for children with inflatables and games and face painting,” she said. 

The parades will be held at the event center and travel along the perimeter. 

Mardi Gras SETX started in 1990 with two friends having a casual conversation.

Three years of planning and collaboration with 18 non-profit organizations later, Mardi Gras Southeast Texas held its first successful event in February 1993 in Downtown Port Arthur. The mission was to benefit non-profit groups, stage a family-oriented affair, promote diversity and racial harmony, and serve as an economic development project.

The event was held over multiple days in Port Arthur for 27 years before moving to Beaumont. Organizers with Mardi Gras SETX said their contract with the city was up and they couldn’t come to an agreement on services provided and cost.

But now, at Doggett Ford Park, there is room to grow, Childress said. There is infrastructure with great amenities, public restrooms and accessible handicap parking. There is also a lighted parking lot and an arena for use for concerts.