BEAUMONT, Texas — Once Mardi Gras starts Thursday evening in downtown Beaumont traffic and parking might be a little challenging for Southeast Texans.
A couple streets around the Beaumont Event Centre will remain closed throughout the event and some downtown streets will close Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon for the three large parades.
MLK Jr. Parkway and College Street will NOT be shut down and will remain open a Beaumont Police spokesperson tells 12News.
Streets along the main parade route through downtown will be closed an hour prior to each parade according to the Beaumont Police Department.
For those parking west of MLK Jr. Parkway Beaumont Police will have a safe crossing area marked and set up at Crockett St and MLK.
The three large parades will follow a 1.3 mile route from the Beaumont Civic Center down Main Street and Crockett Street and through the gated area of the carnival and back down Crockett Street to Edison Plaza.
The gated areas around the Event Centre will keep Crockett Street closed to traffic from Neches St. west to MLK Parkway and Magnolia/Jefferson St closed from Crockett St north to Laurel Street according to police.
RELATED: 12News to air, stream Total Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade LIVE from Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas
Drivers should park on any public street or parking lot unless marked by “no parking” or “no trespassing” signs police say.
Police suggest drivers watch for parking signs throughout the area and to lock their vehicles keep any valuables hidden.
Beaumont Police ask that drivers heed the following…
- Consider carpooling.
- Don’t block fire hydrants. Leave at least 15 feet (about a car length) on either side of hydrants.
- Park 20 feet from crosswalks & intersections.
- Park 30 feet from stop signs, yield signs, flashing beacons, or other signals along the street.
- Parking on the actual parade route will be VERY limited.
- Don’t block driveways.
- Cross the street at well-lit, safe locations.
- There will be a designated crossing areas at MLK Pkwy and Crockett St.
The streets will be closed on Friday by 6 p.m. for the Valero Krewe of Krewes Parade and on Saturday by 4:30 p.m. for the Total Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade
On Sunday streets will close by 3 p.m. for the ExxonMobil Motor Parade
Here's the main route for the larger parades...
- Start on Main Street at Forsythe St at back of civic center
- Head north on Main St (1,065 ft)
- Left turn onto Crockett St (350 ft)
- Left onto Pearl St (350 ft)
- Right onto Bowie St (1800 ft)
- Right onto Magnolia St (963 ft)
- Right onto Laurel Ave - becomes Crocket St at Orleans St (2230 ft)
- Cross Main St to end at Edison Plaza
Remember. The above streets will close ONE HOUR prior to the larger parades.
Here's some suggested driving directions from the Beaumont Police Department...
Approaching From the South (Mid-County):
- Navigate to MLK Parkway
- Take a right onto College Street from MLK Parkway
- Travel down College Street and then take a left onto Orleans Street
- Orleans Street will curve right and become Pearl Street
- Once on Pearl, turn left on any street and begin looking for a parking space
Approaching From the West (College Street):
- Travel east on College Street all the way into Downtown
- Take a left onto Orleans Street
- Orleans Street will curve right and become Pearl Street
- Once on Pearl Street, turn left on any street and begin looking for a parking space
Approaching From the West (Calder Avenue):
- Travel east on Calder Avenue and take a right onto Willow Street
- Willow Street will become Park Street
- Once on Park Street, turn onto any street and begin looking for a parking space
Approaching From the North and East (Lumberton and Vidor):
- Navigate to IH-10
- Take the Downtown exit from IH-10
- The exit ramp will lead into Willow Street
- Continue straight on Willow Street and it will become Park Street
- Once on Park Street, turn onto any street and begin looking for a parking space
