Hera ball kicks off Mardi Gras season

The Tri-City area’s Mardi Gras season gets underway Saturday with the Krewe of Hera ball at Morgan City Auditorium.
The doors open at 7 p.m., and the tableau begins at 8 p.m. The event is open to the public. Attire will be Sunday best. No blue jeans.
Stacey Landry and Jerry “Tillman” Simmons II were crowned Queen and King Hera IV at the 2025 ball.
Tuesday was Epiphany, the traditional start of the Carnival season. This year’s season will be a short one. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17.
Here is this year’s parade schedule, courtesy of Cajun Coast:
Adonis
Feb. 13: The first men’s krewe in Morgan City begins the parade season. The 7 p.m. parade begins on Second Street under the La. 182 bridge and proceeds to Onstead Street continuing down Sixth Street to Marguerite Street, Ninth Street/La. 70, Brashear Avenue onto Victor II Boulevard and ending at the Morgan City Auditorium on Myrtle Street.
Dionysus
Feb. 14: Krewe of Dionysus Parade, Berwick, 2 p.m. The procession will line up on Gilmore Drive and turn on John Street, Robicheaux Street, Mount Street, Gilmore Drive, right on La. 182, Tournament Boulevard, Fairview Drive then to Pattie Drive, where it will disband at Berwick Junior High School.
Galatea
Feb. 15: The Krewe of Galatea Parade, 2 p.m., Morgan City. Morgan City’s oldest women’s krewe. Begins on Second Street under the La. 182 bridge and proceeds to Onstead Street, continuing down Sixth Street to Marguerite Street, Ninth Street/La. 70, Clothilde Street onto Victor II Boulevard. and ending at the Morgan City Auditorium on Myrtle Street.
Nike
Feb. 15: Krewe of Nike, Morgan City’s first children’s Krewe, will follow the Krewe of Galatea Parade at 2:30 p.m.
Hannibal
Feb. 15: Krewe of Hannibal will follow Krewe of Nike Parade at 2:45 p.m.
Amani
Feb. 16: The Krewe of Amani Parade at 1 p.m. Parade begins at Patterson High School on La. 182/Main Street and continues down La. 182/Main Street to Place Norman Shopping Center.
Hera
Feb. 16: Krewe of Hera Parade begins at 7 p.m. on Second Street under the La. 182 bridge and proceeds to Onstead Street, continuing down Sixth Street to Marguerite Street, Ninth Street/La. 70, Clothilde Street onto Victor II Boulevard and ending at the Morgan City Auditorium on Myrtle Street.
Siracusaville
Feb. 17: Siracusaville Parade, 1 p.m. Participants will line up on Siracusa Road at 1 p.m. and proceed to James Street and Grace Street before ending at the Siracusaville Recreation Center.
Hephaestus
Feb. 17: Krewe of Hephaestus Parade, Morgan City, 2 p.m. Morgan City’s oldest Krewe. Begins on the corner of Sixth and Sycamore streets, proceeds on Sixth Street to Marguerite Street to Ninth Street/La. 70, to Clothilde onto Victor II Boulevard and ending at the Morgan City Auditorium on Myrtle Street.