Mardi Gras in St. Louis, Missouri. Second largest Mardi Gras festivities in the U.S. are held in St. Louis, Missouri — Photo courtesy of Explore St. Louis. What began in 1979 as a way for five bored guys to kick the winter doldrums has now become one of the largest Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States. 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. ST. LOUIS — St. Louis' Mardi Gras celebration will reach a crescendo in Soulard this weekend. The Grand Parade caps off a week of parties and parades of humans and dogs alike. 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 A Mardi Gras parade on Royal Street in Mobile during the 2006 season. Mobile, founded by Bienville in 1702, is known for having the oldest organized Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States, beginning in 1703. [9] It’s no secret that New Orleans hosts the largest and most famous Mardi Gras celebration in the United States. As a historic French settlement and one of the rumored sites of the first Mardi Gras, NOLA goes all out for the holiday with more than 80 parades throughout Mardi Gras season. In addition to a host of parades (including the Purina Pet Parade, the largest of its kind in North America), Mardi Gras in St. Louis means wine tastings, Cajun cook-offs, sporting events, and more. There’s even the Run for Your Beads 5K , featuring mid-race pit stops stocked with beer and Hurricanes for 21+ runners and a costume contest at The city’s Imperial Calcasieu Museum celebrates Mardi Gras year-round, with the world’s largest display of Mardi Gras costumes and other regalia. 800-456-7952, www.swlamardigras.com Lafayette, La. There is not just one New Orleans Mardi Gras parade, the city celebrates in the lead up to "Fat Tuesday". Bob Sacha/Getty Images 1. New Orleans, USA. The earliest Mardi Gras in the US may have taken place in Mobile, Alabama, but it's New Orleans that has become synonymous with the celebration. Since the Louisiana city first hosted the event in Mobile’s is the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the nation averaging 1 million unique visitors annually from Mardi Gras ball and parade attendance over the course of Carnival. In comparison, New Orleans averages around 1.5 million annually. You just can’t talk Carnival without giving a nod to the biggest Mardi Gras celebration in the world. Rio has been putting on a lavish, five-day festival of parades, music, and dancing since 1723. Today, 70% of visitors to Brazil’s most dazzling seaport come during Carnival, crowding Rio’s streets with nearly two million tourists. The three largest Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans are parades for the Krewes of Endymion, Bacchus and Muses. Krewe of Endymion The Krewe of Endymion parade is on Saturday, March 1 at 4 p.m. This celebration, rooted in centuries-old traditions, culminates in one of the largest parades in the United States. Where: The Mardi Gras parades occur throughout the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Tickets: Many of the parades are free to attend, with options to purchase grandstand tickets for certain parades. How to Register: No registration The act paved the way for the modern Mardi Gras celebrations and parades, which gained popularity throughout the early 1980s. Today, the highlight of the event is the Mardi Gras parade, always St. Louis Mardi Gras is one of the biggest and most popular Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States. It is held every year on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all over the country. The festivities last for weeks and include parades, concerts, parties, and other events. Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,” is a popular Carnival celebration that takes place in many cities around the world, including Galveston, Texas. Galveston’s Mardi Gras celebration is one of the largest and most well-known in the United States. In the midst of the busy streets, we are surrounded by vibrant colors swirling around us, with the infectious rhythm of music filling the air. Have you ever wondered where the largest Mardi Gras celebrations take place? The answer might surprise you. While most people immediately think of the iconic festivities in New Orleans, there [] New Orleans 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 raucous party (it’s not even the oldest party in the United States). Galveston Mardi Gras 2025. Mardi Gras! Galveston is the third largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States, attracting more than 300,000 attendees annually. The two-week celebration is best known for its lavish parades held on the streets of the city’s historic downtown and beachfront. Top Tip! Texas is also home to the nation’s third-largest Mardi Gras celebration. Mardi Gras! Galveston, now in its 114th year, attracts more than 350,000 visitors annually, according to Visit Galveston
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