Gallery
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Early Mardi Gras Balls . Mardi Gras balls have been around since Louisiana was a French colony. Just as we do today, Creole society kicked off the season on Twelfth Night with the King’s Ball (the Bal de Roi). The highlight of the evening was the cutting of the King Cake (the Gateau des Rois). In Greek mythology, Bacchus is the god of wine and vegetation—and they host a celebration fitting of its namesake god. Mardi Gras balls were exclusive events closed off from most people outside of New Orleans society until this krewe revolutionized the event. In 1949, Edward Brennan Sr. created the krewe, a carnival Ball open to tourists. 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. The first Mardi Gras celebration was in 1703, in Mobile, Alabama.The Mardi Gras festival was introduced to New Orleans years later. “It was in 1857 that the Mobile members of the Cowbellian de Rakin Society, formed in 1830, traveled to New Orleans and assisted with the formation of the Krewe of Comus, considered New Orleans’ most Mardi Gras in New Orleans: what to eat, drink and do. Carnival season includes a variety of festivities and traditions—elegant balls, colorful parades, king cake, costumes—that rival any The French Opera House was a popular venue for Mardi Gras balls in the late 1800s. See where balls are hosted today. By World War I, most New Orleans Carnival balls were held there, and it 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. Though pre-Lenten Mardi Gras balls and parties were held in New Orleans as early as the mid-1700s, the first documented parade in the city did not occur until 1837. This first parade more resembled a procession of revelers in costume than it did the large, organized parades of today. Early Origins: The first recorded Mardi Gras ball in New Orleans took place in 1823 when the Mistick Krewe of Comus, one of the oldest and most influential krewes, organized a private event. Comus introduced the concept of themed parades and formal balls, which subsequently became the template for future Mardi Gras festivities. Mardi Gras Past and Present Traditions from the past that live on today. Mardi Gras has been celebrated in New Orleans since the explorer Iberville first set foot here on Mardi Gras Day 1699. In French colonial days, wealthy members of Creole society threw lavish Mardi Gras balls from Twelfth Night (Jan. 6) to Fat Tuesday Eve. A Mardi Gras ball is, at its core, a tribute to the grandeur of the Gilded Age, so why not dress the part? The more drama, the better. After all, you can’t possibly out-poof or out-ruffle an entire cadre of debutantes. While writing New Orleans Carnival Balls: The Secret Side of Mardi Gras, 1870-1920, I came to understand that my experiences echo the transatlantic, multicultural nature of New Orleans Mardi Gras, one that is both unique to the city (its geographical location, history, and people) while also global in scale, infusing ideas from Europe, West Mardi Gras is meant to be a time of celebration—filled with parades, king cakes, and good times for all. Whether it's the big-city spectacle of New Orleans, the family-friendly atmosphere of Acadiana, or the deep-rooted traditions of Cajun Country, the main goal is always to pass a good time. Mardi Gras balls in New Orleans have a rich and vibrant history that dates back to the early 19th century. These secretive masquerade events have become an integral part of the city’s carnival celebrations and are organized by various social clubs known as “krewes.” 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 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? Space Ball is our annual party. It started as a backyard ball and has grown into a landmark Mardi Gras event that hosts more than 2,000 people. Our SpaceBall and design team, as well as the Krewe at large, help create bizarre and beautiful scenes and spaces that transport attendees to another world. High-society balls involve rituals and protocols that hark back Europe’s pre-Enlightenment, tradition-bound ancien régime.In the 19th century, especially after the Civil War, members of elite Carnival organizations — seeking to evoke a world of romance and chivalry as a tonic for the social and political upheaval of Reconstruction — began acting out aristocratic fantasies by carrying on In 1937, while America suffered through the Great Depression, a group of New Orleans businessman met to come up with a uniquely New Orleans’ solution to the city’s widespread woes: they decided to throw a party. The Krewe of Endymion announces the entertainment for Mardi Gras’s Main Event in 2025, the Krewe of Endymion Parade and Extravaganza. The 59 th annual Super Krewe will roll down the streets of New Orleans and for the first time since 2019, will parade on its traditional route on St. Charles Avenue, as it heads into the Caesar’s Superdome for the mega-party on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |