Mardi Gras Southwest Louisiana organizers on Wednesday announced the slate of 2015 Carnival events.

“Each year our celebration continues to grow,” Katie Harrington, executive director of Mardi Gras Southwest Louisiana, said at a news conference.

“With more and more new people moving into our community — thanks to this incredible time of economic growth — our mission of enhancing, promoting and preserving the heritage and culture of our area has never been more important.”

The 2015 Mardi Gras Southwest Louisiana poster was designed by Victoria Bellard, a ninth-grader at Westlake High School.

Twelfth Night

The Carnival season will begin at 7 p.m. Jan. 6 with the Twelfth Night gala in the Lake Charles Civic Center.

The audience will view the kings and queens of more than 60 krewes. Tickets are $5 in advance or $6 at the door. Children 5 and under will be admitted free.

Tickets may be purchased at Joseph’s Electric, Gordon’s Drug Store, Party Time Store, Moss Bluff Flower Shop and Hamilton House in Sulphur.

Lake Charles parades

Entries are being accepted for the Merchants’ Parade, Children’s Parade, Lighted Boat Parade, Krewe of Omega Parade and the Motor Gras Parade.

The Merchants’ Parade will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 13. The Krewe of Omega Parade will roll at 2 p.m. Feb. 14. The Children’s Parade will go at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 15; the Lighted Boat Parade will be at 7 p.m. The Motor Gras Parade will be at 11 a.m. Feb. 17.

The cost to enter the merchant and children’s parades is $55 per float/vehicle. The Omega Parade costs $10 for floats and trailers and $5 for cars; marching groups are free. The cost to enter the motor parade is $5 per motorcycle and $10 per hot rod or classic car.

The Krewe of Barkus Parade will be at 3 p.m. Feb. 14. The Krewe of Krewes Parade will be at 5 p.m. Feb. 17.

Mardi Gras pageant

The Miss Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana Pageant will accept girls and women ages 5 to 23. The pageant for ages 5-14 will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 10 in the Rosa Hart Theater; the pageant for those 15-23 will be at 6:30 p.m.

Contestants must be residents of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron or Jeff Davis parishes. Entry forms are available at Rhinestone Runway, Broadway Royalty Boutique and at Joy’s Rag Doll. Deadline to enter is Jan. 3.

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.

Shoebox floats

Deadline to register for the Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau shoebox Mardi Gras float contest is Jan. 20.

Floats will be received 3-4:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at the welcome center, 1205 N. Lakeshore Drive. Judging will be on Jan. 31. Floats will remain on display at the bureau through Feb. 19.

Sulphur parade

Sulphur’s Mardi Gras parade will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 7. It will consist of krewes, merchants, individuals and organizations. For more information, contact City Hall at 527-4500 or mayorsoffice@sulphur.org.

Vinton celebration

Vinton’s Mardi Gras celebration will be on Feb. 7 downtown. The Knights of Columbus will hold a gumbo cook-off at 10 a.m. The parade will be at 2 p.m.

Seniors’ ball

The Krewe of the Golden Year’s ball will be 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 9 in the Civic Center coliseum.

Entertainment will be provided by Louisiana Scramble. Lunch will be provided.

The event is free for Calcasieu Parish residents age 60 and over. For more information, call the Calcasieu Council on Aging at 474-2583.

Gumbo, zydeco

The Cajun Extravaganza and Gumbo Cook-off will be 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Civic Center exhibition hall.

There are three categories — chicken and sausage; seafood; and wild game — and two divisions, amateur and professional. Admission is $5. A zydeco dance will be 3-5 p.m.

Children’s Day

Children’s Day, a free event for children ages 3-11, will be noon-3 p.m. Feb. 15 in the Civic Center exhibition hall.

It will include exhibitions of technology and science, safety and health, and arts and crafts. Children will have the opportunity to be photographed in a costume display and take home free souvenirs.

Food, including king cake and drinks, will be provided.

Royal Gala

The Royal Gala will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Civic Center coliseum. Kings and queens, dukes and duchesses, captains, courtesans and jesters will display their costumes.

Advance tickets are $5 and are available at Gordon’s Drug Store, Party Time Store, Medearis’ Costumes, The Mardi Gras Lady and the Civic Center box office. Tickets are $6 at the door. Children age 5 and younger will be admitted free.

Iowa chicken run

Iowa’s annual Mardi Gras Run will be on Feb. 17 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, at 503 East U.S. 90. Doors will open at 8 a.m. Floats will line up at 9 a.m., and the parade will roll at 10 a.m.

The gumbo made with the ingredients gathered during the run will be served 2-4 p.m. The chicken run will end with a zydeco dance.

Entry fee is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. For more information, call Rodney Victorian at 842-1875 or Kimmy Bellard at 884-1403.

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Online: www.mardigrasswla.com.