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Join The Party at Mardi Gras Festival

Published by Connie Motz, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

Maybe it's the allure of a party. Or maybe it's the shiny beads. Either way, since 1857, Mardi Gras in New Orleans has a way of drawing visitors from around the world to experience nothing like they've ever experienced before.

Along Canal Street you'll find an interactive world full of colourful Mardi Gras characters, music, and fun as the boisterous parades stream by. Each Mardi Gras parade is represented by a krewe (or club) with each procession beginning with the presentation of the float for their King and Queen.

Trinkets (or throws) of purple, green, and gold (representing justice, faith, and power, respectfully), are bountifully thrown to the enthusiastic crowds – expect to see traditional Mardi Gras beads, doubloons, and cups, flying through the air – all in response to the catchy ‘throw me something, mister’ cries from the crowds.

The most well attended Mardi Gras parades are that of Rex and Zulu which are both very active social clubs in New Orleans. In the days leading up to the Mardi Gras festival, members of these popular krewes will elect their parade royalty, attend elaborate masquerade balls, and prepare their floats & throws for presentation.

Turn the corner from Canal onto Bourbon Street and you’ll find another interesting Mardi Gras world with a focus on food, music, endless alcohol, and rampant nakedness. This is where Mardi Gras turns into one huge party. Here the Hurricanes (a somewhat lethal concoction of rum, rum, more rum, orange juice, and pineapple juice) and boisterous crowds rein the crowded streets.

This Mardi Gras exposé can be shocking to some but it’s generally about having fun – or as they say in New Orleans, laissez les bon temps rouler – let the good times roll. Climaxing on Fat Tuesday everyone dresses up in costumes and celebrates before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season. On Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras festival, it’s possible to see everything from bodies being bared in order to collect beads to other sexually charged acts not suitable for modest people or children. Anything goes during Mardi Gras and you should be prepared as you just might see it all.

Luckily for those not into the whole Mardi Gras parade and party scene, Bourbon Street also offers a plethora of creole & Cajun cuisine (try Crawfish Etoufée or Jambalaya and a King Cake for dessert) along with live music ranging from jazz to Zydeco.

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Map

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When to Go to Mardi Gras Festival

There is only one time of year to experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans culminating annually on Fat Tuesday, which is always the day before Ash Wednesday. Held every year in either February or March, Mardi Gras Festival dates are determined by counting 40 days back, not including Sundays in accordance with Easter.

Odds n' Ends

While experiencing Mardi Gras in New Orleans should be on everyone’s bucket list, it does require planning ahead. Make your Mardi Gras hotel and flight reservations as far in advance as possible. Keep in mind that many banks close on Fat Tuesday, so take enough money out prior to or bring extra. If you can, use a ladder for the best views and some say, the best throws during parade. Highly collectible throws include Muses shoes, coconuts from Zulu, and doubloons from Rex and Bacchus

Places to Eat

McDonalds
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More Experiences Nearby

Get Your Groove On at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
As you follow the crowds into the Fair Grounds Race Course, site of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the first thing you'll notice is the eclectic population. Known for its vibrant musical history and culture, New Orleans draws both old and young to the Jazz and Heritage Festival. Locally branded as Jazz Fest, the Festival occurs on the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May each year. Grandparents and grandchildren, teachers and students, locals and visitors, those who play music and those who just like to dance to it, are all welcome at the New ...0 miles away.

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Books and DVDs

Frommer's New Orleans 2010
A Year of Festivals
New Orleans City Guide Lonely Planet

Elsewhere on the Web

Mardi Gras - NewOrleansOnline.com
Mardi Gras - MardiGrasNewOrleans.com

Media References

New Orleans revs up the Mardi Gras mood - smh.com.au (newspaper)
Chilly Weather Can't Stop New Orleans' Big Party - npr.org (blog)
Mardi Gras: from New Orleans to Rio, the best of the world's Fat Tuesday carnivals - DailyMail.co.uk (newspaper)
Mardi Gras - spirit of New Orleans is highest since Katrina - Philly.com (newspaper)

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French , Hindi , Indonesian , Italian , Japanese , Lao , Malay , Mandarin , Portugese , Russian , Spanish , Thai , Turkish , Vietnamese are some of the languages spoken in United States. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

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