Zachary Mardi Gras

03/18/2026

Today, members of the Zachary Mardi Gras committee, led by Founder Jamar Hébert, met with the The City of Zachary, Zachary Police Department, and Zachary Chamber of Commerce for an official debrief of our inaugural celebration.

The message was clear: this was a true community effort.

From strong attendance and community engagement to a safe and well-executed event, this first year set a powerful foundation. A standout success was the PR and marketing campaign, which generated strong visibility, regional buzz, and excitement leading up to parade day.

We also had meaningful conversations around opportunities to enhance the experience even further for participants, vendors, area businesses, and attendees in the future.

We’re grateful for the partnership and proud of what was accomplished together as we continue building something special for the City of Zachary.

Zachary showed up in 2026… 2027 is already loading, and it’s going to be bigger, bolder, and unforgettable. 🎭💜💛💚

03/01/2026

We’re listening, we’re learning, and we’re excited about what’s next.

Today marks two weeks since the inaugural Zachary Mardi Gras parade, and as we reflect and look ahead to planning for 2027, we want to clearly invite constructive community feedback.

As we enter our debriefing and planning phase, much of the feedback we’ve received — particularly across Facebook and TikTok — has centered on parade throws. That feedback is heard and appreciated.

With an estimated crowd of nearly 8,000 attendees, turnout far exceeded expectations. For perspective, Zachary’s Christmas parade typically attracts 2,000–3,000 people. This year, we tripled to quadrupled that number — and growth at that scale brought both excitement and important lessons.

This celebration was produced by a brand-new nonprofit organization, Our Beloved Community United Inc., a 501(c)(3), and executed by a 100% volunteer-led committee. The founder, Jamar Hebert, personally underwrote a significant portion of the event, alongside generous sponsors who stepped up — some at the final hour — to support the celebration.

As we look ahead, our focus is on scaling responsibly, strengthening sustainability, and improving the parade experience to meet the level of community support Zachary showed is possible. If you have thoughtful feedback or ideas, we welcome you to share them directly with us at [email protected].

Growth brings lessons, and we’re embracing them.
Zachary showed us what’s possible — now we build on it.

cc: The City of Zachary
cc:Zachary Police Department
cc:Zachary Chamber of Commerce

02/20/2026

What began as a vision became a historic moment for our city.

History was made in Zachary. 🎭✨

64 parade entries.
30 vendors.
8 sponsors.
8 community partners.
100+ volunteers.
Thousands of attendees.

But the most important number?
ONE united community. 🤝🏾🤝🏻💜

Zachary Mardi Gras is an initiative of Our Beloved Community United a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization strengthening community and elevating culture across Baker, Scotlandville, and Zachary.

Learn more at | obcu.org

Made possible through partnership with The City of Zachary and Zachary Police Department

To our 2026 Committee — you didn’t just plan a parade. You launched a tradition. 💜💛💚

The tradition has begun. Stay connected for 2027 deets. 📍

02/20/2026

Zachary Mardi Gras (2026)

🎥: Bryce Istre

02/16/2026

🎭✨ Congratulations to the winners of the Inaugural Zachary Mardi Gras Parade! ✨🎭

What an incredible day of celebration, creativity, and community spirit! From dazzling floats to standout performances, every entry helped make history at our very first parade.

A huge congratulations to all of our parade winners — your hard work and creativity truly shined! 👑🎉

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our judges for their time, fairness, and thoughtful selections. Your support helped make this event even more special.

And to everyone who participated — float builders, marchers, performers, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees — THANK YOU for helping bring the Inaugural Zachary Mardi Gras Parade to life. This was just the beginning, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you again next year!

💜💚💛

02/16/2026

02/16/2026

02/15/2026

🎭 IT’S PARADE DAY, ZACHARY! 🎭

The wait is over — the inaugural Zachary Mardi Gras Parade rolls TODAY at 2:00 PM 🎉
📍 Church St. to Main Street

And when the floats stop… the good times keep rolling 🎶
🎺 Parade Encore | 3:30–5:30 PM
📍 Downtown Zachary Gazebo

Come celebrate. Come stay. Come make history.

🔗 ZMARDIGRAS.COM