Mardi Grass expands for 2026 with a 20,000 plus square foot District in Soulard Market Park
Mardi Grass returns to Soulard Mardi Gras for its fourth and most expansive year, bringing a more than twenty thousand square foot cannabis district to Soulard Market Park. It remains the only cannabis focused experience woven directly into one of the largest Mardi Gras celebrations in the world, giving brands a rare opportunity to meet consumers inside the cultural center of the festival.
This year, the Mardi Grass District converts Soulard Market Park into a dedicated space for cannabis engagement. Brands connect with a steadily expanding audience across the three weekends of activation, with Parade Day serving as the biggest moment of the season.
Soulard Market Park, formerly the Bud Light Party Tent location, sits at the center of the festival’s movement. Premium sponsors reach the tens of thousands of people pouring into Soulard, and a steady share of those revelers naturally make their way into the Mardi Grass District.
Event Presence
Mardi Grass anchors its presence across the festival season with indoor brand engagement during Cajun Cook Off and Run for Your Beads, and the large-scale outdoor activation during Taste of Soulard and Grand Parade Day. The Mardi Grass District’s placement at Soulard Market Park puts brands in front of consistent, high volume foot traffic, including Taste of Soulard attendees picking up their ticket books and the tens of thousands who move through the park after the Grand Parade that final weekend.
New for 2026
For the first time, the Mardi Grass District includes a full entertainment stage inside Soulard Market Park, creating a central gathering point with live performances throughout the day. Alongside the stage, Timeless debuts a professional wrestling ring with live matches between sets, adding an unexpected but fitting spark to the District.
“As a brand, we have always looked for platforms that match our personality,” said Trenton “Dub” Warner, Missouri Field Marketing Manager at Timeless. “Soulard Mardi Gras, and especially Mardi Grass within it, is the only format big and bold enough for the Timeless Stoner Slam. Only here could wrestling, weed, and street culture come together and make perfect sense.”
Brand Perspective
“We are excited to be a part of the Mardi Grass event this year. We barely missed it last year and saw how successful it was, so we knew we needed to be involved next time,” said Max Vansluys, President of Dialed In Gummies. “There are not many events like this in the United States where we get to be in front of so many people in one day and introduce them to our brand.”
Community Space
The 2026 District centers on openness and shared engagement. The layout creates clear pathways for festival goers to move through, with brand activations arranged to encourage direct interaction. The focus is on a community driven environment where people and brands connect naturally throughout the day.
Compliance remains central to the design, with controlled access, age verification, and managed consumption areas supporting a safe environment for everyone. After three seasons of refinement, the District reflects an organized and welcoming environment that matches the energy of the larger festival.
Producer View
“We are genuinely proud of how far this event has come in just a few short years,” said Douglas Hall, President of the cannabis agency and Executive Producer of Mardi Grass. “What started as a small, safe, and compliant zone for cannabis consumers during Mardi Gras has grown into a main attraction. If you had told me four years ago that we would be occupying Soulard Market Park on Grand Parade Day, I would have asked for a hit of whatever you were smoking. But here we are, thanks to our team and our sponsors, and our ongoing partnership with Mardi Gras Inc.”
Sponsorship Opportunities
For sponsor information, contact:
the cannabis agency.
events@thecanna.agency
https://cannabisagency.us/