Think you know Mardi Gras because you’ve seen New Orleans? Let us take you to Lafayette, where volunteers, logistics, and tradition come together to create one of the safest, most family-friendly celebrations anywhere. We welcome trial attorney and Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association president Chris Velmorette to pull back the curtain on how a year of planning becomes a seamless parade week—right down to the barricades, float safety checks, police coordination, and the festival at Cajun Field.
Chris shares how his legal training translates into leading complex operations with clear communication and calm under pressure. We dig into the recent route debate—why Jefferson Street’s business case didn’t outweigh decades of tradition—and how a packed city council meeting reminded leaders that community trust is the parade’s true engine. We compare Lafayette’s approach to New Orleans, Houma, and Mobile, talk through why a volunteer board matters, and tally the ripple effect on small businesses, from bead buys to tux rentals. You’ll also hear this year’s entertainment highlights and why Lafayette’s “season, not a day” cadence makes room for families to enjoy multiple parades with ease.
Then the conversation turns to a gripping legal and medical saga: the early fight to license chiropractic care in Louisiana, and a courtroom moment where a wheelchair-bound client—restored to walking after sustained chiropractic treatment—changes an entire malpractice case in a single step. It’s a reminder that good advocacy, like good community work, asks tough questions, follows the evidence, and keeps people at the center.
If you’ve never experienced Lafayette’s Mardi Gras, consider this your invitation. Bring your family, make friends on the route, try the boiled crawfish, and feel what happens when a city rallies behind safety, culture, and joy. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.
