Don’t plan on vacationing in New Orleans during Mardi Gras unless you are coming specifically for Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is also the worst time to experience the "real New Orleans" as the entire city is centered around the parades. Most restaurants and attractions will be closed and there will be insanely long wait times for the ones that are Don’t plan on vacationing in New Orleans during Mardi Gras unless you are coming specifically for Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is also the worst time to experience the "real New Orleans" as the entire city is centered around the parades. Most restaurants and attractions will be closed and there will be insanely long wait times for the ones that are Gotta disagree here. Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras Day are the best time to visit Bourbon -- great costumes, lots of people having fun, etc. It usually isn't shoulder to shoulder those days except maybe at night, and in certain 1/2 block areas. Mardi Gras is an integral part of the culture of New Orleans - like Loup mentioned, his mother-in-law participated for more than 50 years. This isn't *just* a big party, it is a cultural event spanning weeks with lots of parades, balls, and other events that go on. 3 perfect days in New Orleans Jan 8, 2025 • 9 min read New Orleans has its own cuisine (Creole), its own music (Dixieland jazz), its own traditions (second line parades), and definitely its own vibe. 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 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 This means that the weekend when the major New Orleans Mardi Gras parades will be taking place is on the last weekend of February, which is, more specifically, from Feb. 28 through March 2. Costume like a boss: what to pack for Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Dress code for Mardi Gras is simple: go crazy. No costume is too wild, no notion too absurd. And no, you don’t necessarily have to wear purple, yellow, and green. Dress like it’s your last Halloween on earth. Read this: A Mardi Gras packing list so you can do Mardi Gras like a Following the Jan. 1 truck attack that killed 14 people in the heart of New Orleans, the Department of Homeland Security upgraded Mardi Gras to its highest risk rating. This means there will be significantly more law enforcement officers present than in prior years, said Eric DeLaune, who is leading Mardi Gras security as special agent in New Orleans is a blast during Mardi Gras, but a lot of restaurants are fully booked or closed, many businesses in general close or get extremely packed, especially anything on a parade route. So if you're planning on going to certain restaurants or see certain attractions, it may be difficult. Go to parades, enjoy mardi gras instead of the french quarter, stay uptown and go to napoleon and st charles and see mardi gras instead of just a bunch of drunk tourists begging for shitty beads. Go to mardi gras and catch the good stuff, see the magnificent floats, and enjoy some red beans at fat Harry's. The Philadelphia New Year's Day mummers parade is 200 years older than Mardi gras and two of the foundeing members of Mardi gras were Philadelphia mummers. Like they say it officially started with city financing in 1900 but our parade goes back to the 1640s. The weekend before Mardi Gras all the action is on this route, but Lundi and Mardi Gras most of the action is downtown. Uptown parades (the ones on St. Charles) are the ones with the big elaborate floats that throw all the beads, downtown parades (usually start in the Marigny but go through parts of the French Quarter, Treme and Bywater) are Just moved to Louisiana this past April from the west coast and have never been to any Mardi Gras events before. Any recommendations on events and/or parades to attend? There’s so much going on, just want to see a classic New Orleans celebration! So I was bringing a friend to his first Mardi Gras and he arrived that Thursday. His Airbnb was out that way so we were driving past them about 2:00 p.m. and he was like "I can't believe people are sitting out here waiting for a parade that doesn't start for 4 hours!" This is the subreddit for the Greater New Orleans area. This sub is for locals to discuss all things New Orleans. All tourist questions of any type should be asked at r/askNOLA. This subreddit is NOT for hookups, finding drugs, tourists, or tourist questions. If you post here about these things, you will be shunned and talked to quite harshly. This is the subreddit for the Greater New Orleans area. This sub is for locals to discuss all things New Orleans. All tourist questions of any type should be asked at r/askNOLA. This subreddit is NOT for hookups, finding drugs, tourists, or tourist questions. If you post here about these things, you will be shunned and talked to quite harshly. This is the subreddit for the Greater New Orleans area. This sub is for locals to discuss all things New Orleans. All tourist questions of any type should be asked at r/askNOLA. This subreddit is NOT for hookups, finding drugs, tourists, or tourist questions. If you post here about these things, you will be shunned and talked to quite harshly. Hi Everyone! I am live in Baton Rouge and will be traveling to New Orleans on Mardi Gras day. This will be my first time attending Mardi Gras day in New Orleans (I know). I keep hearing that it is going to be so much traffic. Like, what time do I need to leave Baton Rouge headed to New Orleans?
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