This Illinois Town Has Been Celebrating Mardi Gras In October For More Than 100 Years

As someone who was born on Christmas Eve, I can assure you that I'm a holiday kind of gal. I love the pomp and flamboyance of annual celebrations, especially over-the-top ones like Christmas and Halloween. There is something so fun and special about people coming together, creating their own traditions, and sharing them with the world to enjoy. If you're a holiday lover like me, then this fall-inspired Mardi Gras festival in Pinckneyville, Illinois needs to be at the top of your travel bucket list.

Located just east of the Mississippi River in Southern Illinois, Pinckneyville is a small town with a population of about 5,000. With historic buildings and a cute local Main Street, it also comes alive in the fall with blazing foliage and plenty of pumpkins.

But October in Pinckneyville also has an unexpected meaning for locals: It's time for the annual Mardi Gras celebration! Although the New Orleans tradition is normally celebrated in February, this Perry County community holds its event on the last Friday and Saturday of October each year.

This year the festival takes place Oct. 27-28.

Part-Halloween festival, part-Mardi Gras festival, the festivities have been a mainstay in Pinckneyville since 1922 — over 100 years.

The festivities include tons of small vendors, who have crafts, bakery items, and local organizations on display.

For those feeling lucky, another popular feature is the 50/50 raffle.

The festival features tons of home-baked goods, but also a great array of classic festival vendors and local food trucks.

Make sure you don't miss the parade, which features the Mardi Gras Queen, who is crowned each year. She reigns over festivities such as the business Trick-or-Treat event and kids' costume contests.

On Friday, local businesses set up shop in the Pinckneyville Grade School parking lot to offer up treats, candies, and refreshments to kiddos all dressed up in their best Halloween garb.

And for the collectors: Make sure to grab a T-shirt or hoodie! Each year the festival has a new theme and creates limited merch to show off the holiday spirit. In 2023, the theme is "Let's Glow Crazy."

Have you ever been to the Mardi Gras festival in Pinckneyville, Illinois? What's your favorite festival in Illinois? Tell us in the comments! Start planning your visit by checking out the Pinckneyville Chamber of Commerce website and the Pinckneyville Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. And while you're in town, why not make a weekend out of it? The charming Oxbow Bed & Breakfast is a lovely place to get some restful sleep, and Pinckneyville has a rich history with the American Revolutionary War.