Would you like to see the Mardi Gras parades go back to routes that include Bossier City?

Shreveport-Bossier has officially marked the beginning of Mardi Gras season.

Now through Fat Tuesday, which falls on Tuesday, Feb. 21, visitors and locals alike can enjoy a diverse array of parties, parades, and special events. The major parade dates for 2012 are Feb. 11 (Krewe of Centaur) and Feb. 18 (Krewe of Gemini).

Both major parades roll at 4 p.m., following a route that includes Clyde Fant Parkway along the Shreveport riverfront, Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, and East King’s Highway.

According to a study prepared by the Center for Business and Economic Research at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, an estimated total of 400,000 parade viewers will attend these two parades, making Shreveport-Bossier’s Carnival season one of the largest in Louisiana.