The Mardi Gras season, also known as Carnival, begins on January 6th and ends on March 4th, 2025. The first Mardi Gras celebration in the U.S. took place in 1699, but celebrations were temporarily The season, which represents a time of celebration before Christian Lent, lasts until Fat Tuesday. Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras Day, is March 4, 2025. Between January 6 and March 4, enjoy parades, king cake, community celebrations, and more. For a list of future Mardi Gras Day dates, see here. Where in New Orleans can I experience Mardi Gras? Epiphany, January 6, is the official end of the Christmas season, but it also kicks off Carnival season in New Orleans. Although some people use Carnival and Mardi Gras interchangeably, they are actually different things. January 6 is an important date on Louisiana's calendar, because it marks the official opening of “Carnival season,” the time when private Mardi Gras balls and street parades are staged. This date, called Twelfth Night, is the Feast of the Epiphany in the Catholic faith and marks the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a one to a three-month stretch of the year in which the streets come alive with music, art, and costumed revelers. Beginning on Twelfth Night, January 6, the best season of the year is upon us: king cake, bead-tossing, and parading begins and only increases as we make our way toward Mardi Gras Day. Less than two weeks after Christmas, New Orleans begins the reveling anew with its celebration of Twelfth Night. Jan. 6th marks the Feast of the Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men visited the Christ child. The 2024 New Orleans Carnival season starts on Saturday, Jan. 6, and concludes on Mardi Gras, Tuesday Feb. 13. +5 Endymion 2024 Mardi Gras parade route changes. The Joan of Arc parade that gets the Mardi Gras season started in the French jugglers, knights, stilt walkers, giant puppets, king cake and handmade throws. January 6 is also Twelfth Night Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, the season is known as Carnival and begins on 12th Night, January 6th, and extends until midnight before Ash Wednesday. Club, or Krewe, balls start soon after, though most are extremely private, with their Kings and Queens coming from wealthy old families and their courts consisting of the season's debutantes. The always wonderful Hermes Mardi Gras parade will include members of the Krewe de Jeanne d'Arc foot parade on Friday night in New Orleans January 6, 2024. (Photo by Chris Granger, The Times Twelfth Night, January 6. While Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday) is February 25 this year, the festivities actually begin much earlier. The fun begins on Twelfth Night, January 6, the official start of Mardi Gras, and around 70 parades follow in February. Note: This story was originally titled "Why does Mardi Gras season start on Jan. 6? Answers for newbies." It first appeared on Jan. 4, 2017, but it was so darned Since Mardi Gras Day varies year-to-year but always starts on January 6th, some years Carnival season lasts longer than others. For example, next year, in 2023, Mardi Gras will fall on February 21st, shortening Carnival by a whole week. The January 6, 2024 cruise on the Carnival Mardi Gras departs from Port Canaveral, Florida. On this 7 Night Western Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip) sailing, the ship will visit a total of 4 different cruise port destinations, including its departure port. The Carnival Mardi Gras sets sail on Saturday, Jan 6th and returns on Saturday, Jan 13th. — The 2025 Carnival season kicked off on January 6, and the Krewe of Mardi Gras is set to roll on Saturday, March 1, at 6 p.m. Here is the full parade route: Credit: WWLTV. The parties get more intense in the last month, and the last week, until the last weekend frenzy which climaxes on Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras. New Orleans Mardi Gras 2024. New Orleans Mardi Gras 2024 is January 6 to February 13, 2024. New Orleans Mardi Gras band (Imagecom/Dreamstime) In two words—sensory overload. But more specifically, it's a frosted seasonal treat that Mardi Gras partygoers eat between January 6 (otherwise known as Epiphany, Three King's Day, or Twelfth Night, and Fat Tuesday), which is the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Typically, king cake is made of a rich brioche dough and a 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. Technically, "Carnival" refers to the period of feasting and fun that begins on January 6 (see question below) and ends on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), the final day of revelry before Ash Wednesday when Lent begins. It is also common for people to refer to the entire season as Mardi Gras and, for clarity, to call Fat Tuesday "Mardi Gras Day." January 6, 2025 – It is officially Mardi Gras Season in the city of Youngsville! Today the city of Youngsville kicked off the 2025 Mardi Gras Season with the Annual Flag Raising Ceremony! We celebrated with our Youngsville Mardi Gras Krewes, Krewe des Amis and Krewe La Vie Doux. Congratulations 2025 Krewe des Amis King & Queen Jon & Pam Burley.
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