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The festival season varies from city to city; Mardis Gras often refers to the last day of Shrovetide (or Fastelavn or Carnival), thus being synonymous with Shrove Tuesday. [4] Some traditions, such as the one in New Orleans , Louisiana, consider Mardi Gras to stretch the entire period from Twelfth Night (the last night of Christmas which begins In many areas, however, Mardi Gras has evolved into a week-long festival. Mardi Gras 2025 will fall on Tuesday, March 4. Mardi Gras in New Orleans Came from a Secret Society Mardi Gras is a festive day celebrated in France on Shrove Tuesday (the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday), which marks the close of the pre-Lenten season. The French name Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday, from the custom of using all the fats in the home before Lent. Mardi Gras is an unforgettable experience–embrace the chaos, catch some beads, and let the good times roll. For more information on Mardi Gras, view our Mardi Gras Bucket List and FAQs. To get prepared, see our Mardi Gras Lingo. And explore more of everything that goes into making Mardi Gras in the video below: 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 New Orleans is cranking up the volume for Mardi Gras 2025, and there’s excitement in the air for what is often hailed as the greatest free show on earth. This iconic festival, culminating on Tuesday, March 4, is deeply rooted in Christian and Roman Catholic traditions but has evolved into a secular celebration. On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans, and named it "Pointe du Mardi Gras" when his men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday. Bienville also established "Fort Louis de la Louisiane" (which is now Mobile) in 1702. The origins of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras traces its roots to ancient Roman festivals like Saturnalia, which involved feasting and revelry. With the advent of Christianity, these traditions were adapted into Carnival—a period of indulgence before the austerity of Lent. Mardi Gras specifically refers to the day before Ash Wednesday, when people Mardi Gras is so much more special when you understand what you’re celebrating and what each tradition means to the generations of parade-goers who have stood on parade routes before you. There is a story and a purpose behind everything you’ll experience during Carnival Time – from the king cake you’ll eat to the flambeaux who light the Mardi Gras Colors. In 1872, Rex, the king of Carnival, proclaimed the official colors of Mardi Gras to be purple, green and gold. While Arthur Hardy believes they were probably chosen simply because they looked good together, Rex assigned a meaning to the colors in his 1892 parade titled Symbolism of Colors: Purple represents justice, green stands for faith, and gold signifies power. Mardi Gras is not just for humans; New Orleans hosts a "Krewe of Barkus" parade, where dogs don costumes and join the fun. The largest Mardi Gras float ever built was over 330 feet long and carried more than 200 riders. Mardi Gras in Popular Culture. Mardi Gras has made its mark in popular culture, appearing in movies, music, and literature. "Join us for the vibrant LA Festival de Mardi Gras from February 28 to March 4, 2025, at Cajun Field! Experience lively celebrations, delicious food, and unforgettable entertainment. Don't miss out on the festivities—explore the full schedule and get ready to celebrate!" Locals and visitors alike will find that the K-BAY Mardi Gras Festival is the perfect way to kick off your Mardi Gras celebrations. For Kingsland parade applications, vendor inquiries, or more information, visit the K-BAY Festival website here or call 912-729-6000. Our three day Mardi Gras festival is full of carnival rides, fun games, lively entertainment and yummy food for all ages. FREE PARKING - FREE ADMISSION This is a rain or shine non-refundable event. Festival Hours: Friday, January 17 - 12PM-11PM Saturday, January 18 - 12PM-11PM Sunday, January 19 - 1PM-8PM 2025 Advance Ticket Sale Pick Up: Le Festival de Mardi Gras is a carnival with rides, food and live music. Parades roll through festival grounds; Krewe of Allons 'Kick-off' Parade starts at Pontiac Point to Cajun Field at 6:30 pm; Of course, the midway will return with lots of great rides, games, and carnival food. More information on pay-one-price ride wristbands coming soon. READ MORE: 2025 Mardi Gras Parade Schedule for Lafayette, Louisiana and the Acadiana Area. But one of the biggest draws of the Mardi Gras Festival is the live music. Come join the fun on Saturday, March 1, 2025 in downtown Aransas Pass for the Saltwater Mardi Gras festival. This family-friendly event offers a variety of activities. Attendees can browse local vendor booths, enjoy live zydeco music, savor cuisine from food trucks, explore the kids zone, and participate in the gumb Join the family-friendly fun of Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ 9th annual Mardi Gras Festival—now bigger and better than ever! Experience the sights, sounds, tastes, and colorful beads of New Orleans’ world-famous famous celebration right here in San Antonio. The 15th Mardi Gras Columbia Festival takes place on Saturday, March 1, 2025 (12-7pm) at City Roots urban farm in Columbia, SC. ⚜️. 🪅 The event will feature: 18 local bands playing live across 3 stages throughout the festival (lineup below!) $10 festival entry (free for kids 12 and under) — tickets available at the door Our ticketed, VIP riders will jump aboard floats at the festival grounds at the Mardi Gras bus stop and ride in style down Capitol Mall throwing 100% recycled Mardi Gras beads that we'll provide for you. THEN the entire, light-up parade returns to the festival grounds for our signature City of Trees Parade dance party until 9PM.
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