The Lawrence Mardi Gras parade shared space and music for everyone Tuesday as it drew an ever-growing crowd of energetic and festive paradegoers who sang, danced and cheered their way through downtown Lawrence.
The festivities started early at Terrebonne Po’ Boys, where beignets, coffee and cocktails were available for those up as early as 8 a.m. for the celebration.
The parade, led by the River City Brass Band, began at noon at the Granada before traveling up Massachusetts Street to Free State Brewing Company.
Musicians with a trombone, tambourines and a harmonica led the way down the sidewalk. Behind them was the “Krewe De Mass” sign topped with sunflowers. Whistles and cowbells followed deeper in the parade with banjos, whistles and more brass instruments.
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Many paradegoers wore masks and beads, golden headwear, glitter and shades of purple, gold, green and red.
A few people held “No ICE in Kansas” signs while many others wore the colors of different LGBTQIA+ pride flags. One person dressed up as the dancing grass from Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, and another was dressed in all cow print.
Adrina Lyne, who was dressed in drag as a clown, just moved to Lawrence and said it was her first Mardi Gras.
“It feels like a lot of different kinds of people have come together just to be silly. That’s something I can support all day every day as a clown,” Lyne said. “It was easy to just walk up and join, and I hope that more people do in the future.”
Nora Clark, who has been in Lawrence since 1984, said she has been to almost every Lawrence Mardi Gras with either family or friends and that it’s a joyous time for anyone from anywhere.
“I think everyone is so busy with their various lives, students working, and yes, we have our networks where we are, but just to come all together and talk to each other, see each other’s costumes, and a little bit of anonymity,” Clark said. “It brings so many different people from the community and even other towns together.”
This includes Abbie Johnson, a 23-year-old architecture master’s student at the University of Kansas originally from St. Louis.
Johnson said Mardi Gras is a weird and fun holiday with great food that she uses as a way to have a last bit of fun before giving something up during the 40-day period of Lent.
“I like to think of today as the last day of indulgence,” Johnson said.
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Tom Wenner, a co-leader of the parade who plays the snare drums and sings during the event, said Mardi Gras is always needed, but particularly so in 2026. He said there has been a lot of angst in the country this past year.
“It warms my heart and my soul. I guess that’s why I got into it to begin with, and that’s why I keep doing it, and there’s a lot of people that I don’t see all year, but I always see them here,” Wenner said. “There’s a lot of loyal Mardi Gras parade patriots we have, and I just love everything about it, honestly.”
Friends of Wenner, Mike and Katie West, began the tradition in the late 2000s. The Wests moved from New Orleans to Lawrence after Hurricane Katrina and started the parade after discovering that Lawrence did not have a Mardi Gras of its own. Now, the band continues the tradition in their honor every year.
Gwyneth Sigmon said she’s played with the band when she could since almost the beginning of the tradition.
Sigmon, who played the penny whistle, said that she’s seen the event grow in both the number of paradegoers and musicians participating, but what draws her to the event is the music.
“In a lot of ways, it honors how music travels all around the country. Jazz itself has always had a direct connection between New Orleans and Kansas, so we’re just continuing that,” Sigmon said. “I like that everybody can be creative, and do their own thing.”
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Logan Pierson (he/him), reporting intern with The Lawrence Times since December 2025, is a senior journalism and photography student at the University of Kansas. He previously contributed to the University Daily Kansan as a senior reporter and beat reporter.
Read his work for the Times here.
Molly Adams (she/her), photo editor, has worked with The Lawrence Times since May 2022. She can be reached at molly@lawrencekstimes.com.
Check out more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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