This parade was pretty darn awesome, in my opinion. The pink flamingo is its mascot and you will…read moresee everyone dressed in pink, houses covered in pink, so much pink. This was my first time going, and it was nice. Lots of pink floats and pink throws. People will be drunk here. And a little high, mostly drunk. But that is to be expected. This parade is the Saturday before the big day, and their website says it is the largest Baton Rouge Mardi Gras parade. Throws were very generous here.

Second only to the to St. Paddy's Day Wearin of the Green parade, Spanish Town Mardi Gras makes for…read morean amazing day in Baton Rouge during Carnival Season. People from near and far come flocked in pink and flood the streets of Baton Rouge. There is plenty of parking, both free and in lots. The key is getting there early, but even if you can't you'll find a spot somewhere. You can walk around before the parade and view all the floats and meet many of the riders. Floats tend to surround local politics and happenings, and usually have a creating touch to them. Be ready for an occasional dirty theme or vulgar image, but they are really few and far between. Bring your kids... so long as YOU don't make a big deal out of the themes and point out things to them, they aren't even going to notice, they're just looking for beads and throws. One of the best things about the organization that runs the parade is that the money they raise goes to local non-profit organizations and helps Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas. Spanishtown is a fun day for everyone. Be responsible, drink your water between your other beverages, and HAIL FLAMINGEAUX!

Excellent variety of blues artists. The outdoor venue is wonderful and extremely accommodating as…read morewell as relaxing.

The Blues Festival is a great event in April in downtown Baton Rouge that has a little something…read morefor everyone. Some years there are some really big names that come in, others it is more local talent exposed. I've tried to get down there every year, and it's fun to see how the event has blossomed. There are more local artisans selling down there now which is great. There are also numerous food trucks and vendors so you absolutely will not leave hungry. There are four stages where you can set up and catch all sorts of groups. It's a very friendly vibe all around. I did feel like there was a disconnect this year with communication. I did not see as much advertising around the city until the week of, and I know several past attendees who were not aware of the date and missed it due to scheduling conflicts. It was also not publicized more than a day or two in advance that the bike corrals would be there again with a safe spot to leave your bike if you chose to ride down there. I spoke to the group over that and they hadn't been given much notice either. I tried to ask a couple of questions on social media but the link it kept sending me to was either broken or I wasn't sure if it would send me where I needed to go. Overall, it's a great event that exposes you to lots of talent, and I do look forward to it every year!

It may be blasphemous for a self proclaimed baseball fan that bleeds purple and gold to say I have…read morenever been to an LSU baseball game, but sadly until Saturday night this was the case. I have been to countless football games, basketball games and even an intramural rugby game at LSU. Alex Box does an unbelievable job documenting LSU's baseball success through out its history with plaques of All-American Players banners of their 6 NCAA Championships, and a Hall of Fame inside the stadium. The Hall of Fame is free to ticket holders and stays open through out the 7th inning. The stadium itself is very nice, better than a lot of minor league stadiums I have been too. The fan support is also unbelievable!! Tiger fans boo every ball and cheer every stike to the opposing team. "Geaux Tigers!" will be chanted through out the game and not 1 fan dares not join in. There are playgrounds on each end of the stadium for the kiddos to play. Ticket prices are dirt cheap! 5.53 will get you a seat in the bleachers if you are lucky enough to buy them without a scalper. (I paid 20.00 a piece for these as the game was sold out). So why not 5 stars? Well the Tigers lost for 1 so that dampered my mood and no beer at college venues. I hate that rule as beer and baseball are like peanut butter and jelly. Overall though a great place to watch a game.

This place is awesome. I get chill bumps every time I walk up the stairs and see the field. There…read moreis not a bad seat in the stadium. I love stadium food and they definitely have it. Some of the items are a little on the small side but has a large price. I can normal fresh a hot dog before I even make it back to my seat. On this occasion I had chicken tenders and french fries, and a bottle of water. It was $11.50. Luckily I had enough beers tailgating to not care how much it was. I don't even have say I'll be back because that should be understood. GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!

This was an awesome Mardi Gras Festival put on by the Henry Turner, Jr. & Flavor and The Ultimate…read moreLouisiana Party! From start to finish, there were live musicians and dancers (from Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee and more). I am a huge supporter of what Henry Turner, Jr. does for the music culture of Louisiana. His music and the artists he brought on board were truly talented, which amplified his love for the city of Baton Rouge. I know how hard he worked to make this show happen and I would love nothing more than for it to grow bigger each year. This festival happens yearly before, during and after the largely popular Spanish Town Parade in downtown Baton Rouge. Plus, it is family-friendly and is in the giant open space of Galvez Plaza on North Blvd Town Square. Food, retail vendors and even some entertainment for the kiddos made for a great way to spend the day celebrating Mardi Gras! If you missed this party, please check the photos for this page and you will think to yourself how in the world you were not there! If you'd like to see more of what Henry Turner, Jr. does around town, be sure to visit him at his Listening Room (located at the Belle Of Baton Rouge on Thursday nights) and check out his website: http://www.henryturnerjr.com/. Did you know he even wrote the theme song for Baton Rouge? Here's the link: http://ultimatelouisianapar.wix.com/brthemesong. "Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge"... perfectly fitting!

This was the 10th anniversary of the North Gate Music and Arts Fest. There were lots of vendors…read morewith food, jewelry, paintings, leather masks and other cool stuff. The bands sounded good and it looked like there was a pretty good turn out. It was from 4-11 pm and I didn't get there until later but it seemed like people were still showing up at around 10pm. Overall it was a good time.

Very nice place to spend the New Year 's Eve celebration. Full bar, live music and food.read more

We came Christmas evening and had a mostly good time. Unfortunately some very intoxicated people…read moreruined the evening around 6:30pm. The intoxicated people kept using racial slurs out loud, pushing each other into others, and later were urinating in the parking lot - all while children were walking by. I don't know if this is a regular occurrence or not, but it definitely ruined the evening for many Baton Rouge families wanting to see a beautiful light show on Christmas Day.

Lights, lights! So many lights! It's a winter wonderland of lights... here in Baton Rouge. This is…read moredefinitely a pretty ideal place to check out during COVID times and more importantly, during the holidays. It will bring smiles to anyone who visits. So yes, it is an outdoor experience and you just get to walk around to enjoy the beautiful scenery that lights up this space (across from Baton Rouge General) only during the holiday season. If you're at the parking lots around the mall, you will see the lights from there, too. What are you waiting for? The holiday season is a short one, so be sure to visit this before the lights come down. I don't know of any other lights spectacular other than the one at the Baton Rouge Zoo like this one. It's easy to park and access this from Picardy. Will be enjoyed by all ages... I promise!

The streets are not mapped out or equipped to handle a large concert. Also, one vendor selling…read moreshirts in one spot, we are still in the line and half way and it's been 30 minutes. This place doesn't know how to handle a large event and make it manageable for those that are attending. Just sad. Will not come back here for any event. Just ridiculous! Oh and no AC in Auditorium, was soaked when we left.

Mega live shows, ice skating exhibitions, political rallies, concerts, plays, circus, pageants,…read moreetc. I have been here for numerous events and I have even spent some time backstage. This is Baton Rouge's premiere venue for any large venue gathering. For all of the various types of events listed above, the set-ups have been different. The venue is pretty versatile and can handle any kind of event. It's locate at the heart of the downtown Baton Rouge area. The only problem, I see a lot of is when a huge event is letting out and the traffic could be quite horrendous, when exiting the parking garages. Sometimes, one could be stuck for an hour or so, when everyone is trying to get out at the same time. You may be better off finding street parking and just walking to the arena. What's great about it being downtown is that there are a lot of eateries close by and you may even catch a free event in the outdoor venue - Galvez Plaza. If you are coming for a huge special event, then prepare to pay for parking (bring cash though; preferably, exact change). I wish they would bring cooler acts here, so I don't have to drive all the way to NOLA to see a show.