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. What is the History of Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras originated in New Orleans the day Iberville stood on our land in 1699. Since then, balls have become a tradition of the season to represent members of society. From the past to the present, Mardi Gras is full of traditions. Mardi Gras balls began in the 1700s and still exist today. Mardi Gras 2025 is Tuesday, March 4. We're counting down the minutes. As Mayor of the great City of New Orleans, I invite you to visit our city to experience the excitement of Mardi Gras!" James R. Creecy in his book Scenes in the South, and Other Miscellaneous Pieces describes New Orleans Mardi Gras in 1835: [3] The Carnival at New Orleans, 1885. Shrove Tuesday is a day to be remembered by strangers in New Orleans, for that is the day for fun, frolic, and comic masquerading. Why does New Orleans celebrate Mardi Gras? Although it is a Christian holiday now, Mardi Gras is a holiday that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites, according to the 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. New Orleans comes alive during Mardi Gras in ways that are impossible to capture until you’ve seen it with your own eyes. The vibrant parades, dazzling costumes, and infectious energy create an experience that's truly one-of-a-kind—but, let’s be honest, it can also overwhelm first-timers. Mardi Gras in New Orleans: what to eat, drink and do. From king cakes and costumes to parades and parties, here's what to know about Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Wednesday January 22 2025. Because Mardi Gras’s timeline is based on the Catholic calendar, the actual date is a moving target that falls in February or March; check out future dates here. Pop culture prep work. Best Mardi Gras TV Show Treme, Season 1, Episode 8: All On a Mardi Gras Day "Treme" was David Simon’s love letter to New Orleans, its people, and its culture. Mardi Gras revelers greet a float from the Zulu parade at the corner of St. Charles and Canal Streets in New Orleans, La., on Mardi Gras day Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1997. (AP Photo/Andrew J. Cohoon) Share 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. 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. Mardi Gras Day is March 4, 2025. Fat Tuesday is the last day of the Carnival season as it always falls the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The official start of Carnival Season is Twelfth Night, January 6. Book your hotel room now and Reserve your Mardi Gras package. Want to know more about Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Mardi Gras may be an ancient celebration but there's always something new to discover. As the krewes announce their 2025 themes, throws and celebrity monarchs and riders, we'll post that information here Big Chief Demond Melancon wears his Red Cloud suit amongst other members of Mardi Gras Indian tribes [+] during Mardi Gras 2014. In February 2021, the usual bustle of New Orleans’ Canal Mardi Gras Parade Schedule. Mardi Gras is more than just a day, or one week, or even a weekend. Starting January 6 (Twelfth Night), New Orleans has parades in the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras Day, which falls on March 4, 2025. Take a look at the parades below and click on each to learn more.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |