This unique five-day celebration is not your typical idea of Mardi Gras with beads and doubloons. In fact you won’t find these trinkets in sight, but instead, men and women on horseback donned in hand-crafted wire masks, tall hats called capuchons, and very distinctive costumes. This one of a kind celebration begins the Friday before Mardi Gras Day, but the main event is the Courir de Mardi Gras procession or “chicken run” which involves chasing a live chicken to collect for a community gumbo, and silliness by revelers all day. Don’t wait till Fat Tuesday to join in the fun. Throughout the weekend, experience the town’s rural traditions with jam sessions, street dances, cooking demos, Mardi Gras exhibits and a special Liberty Theater show. A Lil' Mardi Gras run for children and teenagers is held Sunday as well as an old time boucherie (hog butchering).  

The Eunice Courir de Mardi Gras dates back from when the town was first established in the late 19th century. The Courir was abandoned for a few years during World War II, but in 1946 a small band of riders revived the tradition. Today, the Eunice Courir de Mardi Gras has more than 2,000 participants on the run, and it continues to increase each year. 

Click here to see pictures of last year's Eunice Courir de Mardi Gras events.