ST. LOUIS – It’s one of the biggest times of the year in St. Louis, as the 46th Mardi Gras weekend kicks off Friday night with the Mayor’s Ball, then the Bud Light Grand Parade and a lot of reveling on Saturday.

The 23rd Annual Mayor’s Ball is set to take place for the first time ever inside the Anheuser-Busch Biergarten at the brewery, just off Interstate 55. In past years, the signature Mardi Gras event has been held at City Hall and Union Station.

The Mayor’s Ball is a sold-out ticketed event and is hosted by the Mardi Gras Foundation. All proceeds will go towards grants that will help benefit communities in Soulard and downtown St. Louis.

The Mardi Gras festivities will continue Saturday morning for the Bud Light Grand Parade, which is set to kick off at 11 a.m. on South Broadway, from Walnut Street to Chouteau Avenue. Themed as ‘Cooking up a Celebration, the parade will begin rolling near Busch Stadium and will travel through Downtown South and Soulard until it reaches the Anheuser Busch Brewery.

As tens of thousands pour into the Soulard neighborhood on Saturday, safety will be a priority. Some of the hard rules for those attending include no cans, no coolers, no bottles, and no backpacks.

Police officers will be stationed along the parade route, and no cars will be allowed in the neighborhood. Four entry points and five rideshare locations will be scattered throughout the area:

Entry Points

  • 13th St. and Russell Blvd. (near Conoco Gas Station)
  • Lafayette Ave. and Menard St. (west of Session Taco)
  • Ann Ave. and 9th St. (by Pontiac Square Park)
  • Ann Ave and 12th St. (south of McGurk’s)

Ride Share Locations

  • 2100 S. 13th St.: John D. McGurk’s
  • 1730 S. 11th St.: Way of Life Church
  • 2301 S. 7th St.: South Broadway Athletic Club
  • 1822 S. Broadway: Edele & Mertz (Carnival Tent)
  • 1631 S. Broadway: Kind Goods

Changes will be coming to Soulard for 2025 as Gravois Boulevard will be set to close at 2 p.m. between Lafayette and Mississippi Avenues. Additionally, outdoor sales in Soulard will end early at 6 p.m. this year, an hour earlier than previous years.

For more information on the 2025 Mardi Gras festivities, visit stlmardigras.org