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. 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. 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!" 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 is the biggest celebration in New Orleans, culminating on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Known for its spectacular parades, vibrant costumes, and deep-rooted traditions, this celebration is a bucket-list experience. 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. 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. 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 Maurice Lightfoot, a member of ‘The Tramps,’ the oldest unit of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, a historic New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe, participates in King’s Day festivities in New Orleans, Jan. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) 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 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? 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 is a Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. It's most famously celebrated with parades in New Orleans 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 Tips from NOLA Locals: What to Know Before You Go Essential Mardi Gras Advice from NOLA Insiders. New Orleans comes alive during Mardi Gras in ways that are impossible to capture until you’ve seen it with your own eyes. Selene follows Dionysus. Aphrodite at 6:00 p.m. in Houma. Saturday, March 1, 2025: NOMTOC at 10:45 a.m. on the Westbank. Iris at 11 a.m. in Uptown 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 Mardi Gras History and Traditions Learn about the famed celebration's cultural roots and traditions. 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. A common misconception about Mardi Gras in New Orleans is that it’s only for adults. With most parades far far away from the revelry on Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras is a family and community celebration. You’ll see plenty of children and families out on the Saint Charles Avenue parade route, some on ladders, some on shoulders. Lundi Gras, the day before Mardi Gras, is a celebration in its own right. The Krewe of Red Beans (krewe costumes are made from the city’s iconic legume) marches through the Marigny and Bywater
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |