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Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama, is the oldest Carnival celebration in the U.S.—even older than the one in New Orleans. The first known Mardi Gras celebration in the United States took place in this coastal Alabama town in 1703, and the town prides itself on being the birthplace of the American Mardi Gras tradition. The largest and most famous Mardi Gras celebration in the USA is in New Orleans, where Fat Tuesday is a legal holiday. NOLA has been celebrating Mardi Gras since the early 18th century and the Here are four Mardi Gras celebrations beyond New Orleans worth checking out. Advertisement Note that officially Mardi Gras 2024 takes place on February 13, but the Carnival season begins as early as the first week of January in some locations, with the largest parades and parties happening around the weekend of February 10-11. Pensacola, Florida, may seem like an unlikely place for a Mardi Gras celebration, but the city draws over 100,000 people for its Grand Mardi Gras Parade in Downtown Pensacola. For a nighttime party, the Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Parade is a Pensacola staple. To compile a list of the best places to celebrate Mardi Gras aren’t New Orleans, 24/7 reviewed a a survey published by the lawn care services site Lawn Love. The site computed composite scores Mardi Gras is a colorful and vibrant celebration that includes delicious and culturally rich foods, street parties and parades, and “krewes” handing out various festive trinkets. Whether you’re visiting the most popular spot or the site of the country’s first celebration, here are the top 5 U.S. cities to celebrate Mardi Gras. New Les Gilles de Binche celebrating Mardi Gras in Binche, Belgium. Mark Renders/Stringer/Getty Images 4. Binche, Belgium. Celebrated south of Brussels in Belgium’s Hainaut province from March 2-4, the Carnival of Binche centers on the area’s unique folklore. You may have seen its concluding March of the Gilles, which takes place on Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras arrived in North America as a sedate French Catholic tradition with the Le Moyne brothers, [3] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, in the late 17th century, when King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France's claim on the territory of Louisiane, which included what are now the U.S. states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. When is Mardi Gras 2025? This year, Mardi Gras, which translates from French to "Fat Tuesday," is on March 4. Ash Wednesday is on March 5, the day marking the start of the 40-day Lenten season However, Mardi Gras does not belong only to New Orleans. In fact, the tradition belongs to France, where Mardi Gras translates as Fat Tuesday—referring to slaughtering the fatted calf in anticipation of Lent (the Catholic, 40-day period where the faithful pray, fast, or abstain from vices for 40 days before Easter). Thus Mardi Gras is that New Orleans might be the biggest Mardi Gras celebration in the country, attracting some 1.4 million visitors each year, but it's not the only place that celebrates the beginning of Lent with a Get ready for a night of fun, food, and festivities as Pareidolia Brewing Company hosts its Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Celebration: Beads & Brews on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m The first American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Sieur de Bienville landed near present-day New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans is the most famous city for Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States, but Mobile, Alabama, claims to have the oldest annual Carnival celebration in This year, Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, takes place on March 4, but celebrations are starting early in San Antonio, with events rolling out as soon as this weekend. The History & Traditions of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras has been celebrated in Louisiana since the 18th century, brought by French settlers. Today’s traditions stem from European carnival customs mixed with local culture, creating a uniquely New Orleans spectacle. Whether you celebrate Mardi Gras for its connection to Christian traditions, its cultural significance, or simply for the fun and revelry, it remains an enduring and beloved festival. In places like New Orleans, Mardi Gras has become a symbol of the city’s identity, representing unity, diversity, and the joy of living life to the fullest. As 3. SeaWorld San Antonio Mardi Gras: Celebrate Mardi Gras at SeaWorld San Antonio from January 18 through March 2, where the excitement of the New Orleans-style carnival meets the charm of South Texas. Related Post: Sea World San Antonio: Your Fin-Tastic Insider’s Guide Click on the Mardi Gras krewes below for further information about the krewe and to see their usual route for each parade. Please note: Events and activities are subject to change without notice. Stay tuned to the site for further info. "There's no place like New Orleans." —Harry Connick Jr. “There are a lot of places I like, but I like New Orleans better.” — Bob Dylan “Mardi Gras is a state of mind.” Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is celebrated the day before the solemn Christian holiday of Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of the Lenten season. Here are some places to take part in Mardi
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