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LGBTQ Mardi Gras The New Orleans LGBTQ community embraces Mardi Gras traditions with costumes, krewes, and more. While the first official gay Carnival krewe, the Krewe of Yuga, was formed in the late 1950s, “Gay Mardi Gras” had been going on underground way before then. When is Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Many people believe that Mardi Gras is a single day of celebration. Mardi Gras or “Fat Tuesday” is actually the climax for the Carnival season. Formal Gay Balls and walking parades begin on the twelfth night of Christmas (Kings Night – Jan 6th). Most of the larger balls begin a week or two before Fat Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss. February 21, 2023. Every year, the Krewe of Queenateenas’ reigning King Cake King and Queen take to the balcony of the Ambush Mansion for a bead toss that will have the queer community leaping, grabbing and cheering. This is, quite literally, one of the crowning moments of Gay Mardi Gras. From annual extravaganzas thrown by gay Mardi Gras krewes to block parties that invite you to leave your inhibitions at home, every day of gay Carnival is an opportunity to show up as you are, wherever you are. Overview of 2025 Gay Mardi Gras Events in New Orleans: Mystik Krewe da la Rue Royale Revelers Twelfth Night Party January 6, 2025 Mardi Gras is, of course, the biggest annual event in New Orleans. It begins on "12th night" and it ends on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The most popular time for tourist to visit during Mardi Gras is the weekend before Fat Tuesday. New Orleans holds festivals for Southern Decadence, Mardi Gras, Pride Fest, Halloween and more, bringing everyone together: gay, lesbian, bisexual transgender and intersex. Mardi Gras is an inseparable part of LGBTQ history in New Orleans, and the community is a rich thread in the tapestry of revelry that draws over a million people to the Big Easy each winter. Queer Carnival Has Been in NOLA for Over 60 Years. New Orleans' Mardi Gras celebrations have been helping the city stand out on the world stage since the 1700s. While most people know about the many different Mardi Gras krewes, the parades, and the costume balls, one relatively unknown side of NOLA Carnival, one specifically catered to the city's LGBTQ community, has been around since at least Gay Mardi Gras History. E. very year, New Orleans shuts down and throws the party of parties. Everywhere else in the country, it's just another Tuesday, but, in New Orleans it's Mardi Gras! Mardi Gras is more than a single day of celebration. It's a state of mind. Mardi Gras reflects and defines the cultural traditions of New Orleans. The earliest written records of Mardi Gras and Carnival celebrations in New Orleans date back to the 1730s, and describe revelry of all kinds on Mardi Gras Day, even including descriptions of men The Krewe of Armeinius Founded in 1968, the Krewe of Armeinius is the largest Gay Mardi Gras organization in the city. Throughout the year, their mission is to educate the community and preserve the history and traditions of Gay Mardi Gras. Each year, they celebrate the organization’s mission and efforts with their annual Krewe of Armeinius Ball. Check their official website for more events Experience LGBT history. Take in the scenes of Mardi Gras from the balcony at Cafe Lafitte in Exile - the oldest continuously-operating gay bar in the United States. The huge balcony offers fantastic people watching on both Bourbon and Dumaine streets. Southern Decadence, often dubbed the "Gay Mardi Gras," is one of the most vibrant and eagerly awaited LGBTQ+ festivals in New Orleans. Celebrated over Labor Day weekend, this event draws thousands of revelers from across the globe to the heart of the French Quarter. What started as a small gathering in 1972 has now blossomed into an epic party. 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. Academy of the Golden Goddess, Inc. (AGGI)/New Orleans debuts presenting annual awards show celebrating gay Carnival clubs 1978 Mystick Krewe of Apollo (Shreveport) is founded What is the meaning of Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Mardi Gras dates back to Pagan fertility rituals. Its roots can be traced back to ancient Roman festivals like Saturnalia and Lupercalia. It was later given a Christian makeover. Mardi Gras takes the form of a prelude to Lent. We give things up in Lent, so Mardi Gras is about indulging. * Walking With the Gay Ghosts of New Orleans; Cafe Lafitte’s in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 12:30 p.m. Half Queer History, Half Stories of Good ol’ Gay Smut! Creep the French Quarter streets where Marlon Brando raged, lesbians had turf wars, and New Orleans gays contributed to the revolution. 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.
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Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
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