BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - One of Baton Rouge’s most popular Mardi Gras traditions may be in jeopardy as city-parish leaders consider major budget cuts heading into 2026.

Organizers of the Spanish Town Parade warned during a budget hearing Wednesday, Dec. 3, that they may have to move the parade out of Baton Rouge if the city-parish can no longer cover the cost provide security.

According to Spanish Town President Robert King, the city-parish has paid for security for the parade for the past 45 years.

“If we can’t get the security, then we, like other parades, have talked about moving out of the city of Baton Rouge,” King said.

Parade leaders estimate they would need between $50,000 and $75,000 to cover security on their own. They say they don’t have the funding because the money raised

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